0.001
Pa·s
1
cP
1
mPa·s
0.001
Pa·s
1
cP
1
mPa·s
The Pascal-Seconds to Poise Converter converts dynamic viscosity from the SI unit (Pa·s) to the CGS unit (poise) and practical sub-units (centipoise, millipascal-seconds). The conversion is exact: 1 Pa·s = 10 poise = 1000 centipoise = 1000 mPa·s.
The pascal-second is the SI derived unit of dynamic viscosity, defined as the viscosity of a fluid in which a shear stress of 1 pascal produces a shear rate of 1 per second. It is equivalent to 1 kg/(m·s). While Pa·s is the formally correct SI unit, it produces awkward numbers for many common fluids: water is only 0.001 Pa·s, and most industrial fluids fall in the range of 0.001 to 100 Pa·s.
The poise (symbol: P) is the CGS unit of dynamic viscosity, named after French physicist Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille. The centipoise (cP) is more practical because water at 20°C ≈ 1 cP, providing an intuitive reference. Since 1 cP = 1 mPa·s exactly, these two units are interchangeable and dominate industrial and scientific viscosity reporting.
Understanding these conversions is essential when reading technical literature, as European and newer publications use Pa·s or mPa·s, while American industrial sources, older textbooks, and many instrument readouts use centipoise. Our converter ensures seamless translation between all three representations.
The exact conversions: 1 Pa·s = 10 P = 1000 cP = 1000 mPa·s. The poise is 1 g/(cm·s), and since 1 Pa·s = 1 kg/(m·s) = 1000 g / (100 cm · s) = 10 g/(cm·s) = 10 P.
Reference viscosities in Pa·s: Air = 1.8×10⁻⁵, Water = 1.0×10⁻³, Olive oil = 0.08, Glycerin = 1.5, Honey = 2-10, Pitch = ~2.3×10⁸ (the famous pitch drop experiment).
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Water at 20°C: 0.001 Pa·s = 1 cP
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Glycerin at 20°C: 1.5 Pa·s = 1500 cP
Multiply by 10. 1 Pa·s = 10 poise exactly. Example: 0.5 Pa·s = 5 P.
Multiply by 1000. 1 Pa·s = 1000 cP exactly. Example: 0.001 Pa·s = 1 cP (water).
Yes, exactly. 1 mPa·s = 1 cP. Both equal 0.001 Pa·s. They are interchangeable.
Because water ≈ 1 cP, giving an intuitive baseline. Most liquids fall in the range 0.1-100,000 cP, which are more manageable numbers than 0.0001-100 Pa·s.
Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille (1797-1869) was a French physicist who studied blood flow and viscous fluid dynamics. Poiseuille's law describes laminar flow through circular pipes.
Air: 1.8×10⁻⁵, Water: 1.0×10⁻³, Blood: 3-4×10⁻³, Olive oil: 0.08, Motor oil: 0.1-0.3, Honey: 2-10, Ketchup: 50-100, Peanut butter: 150-250.
Low viscosity fluids (water, solvents) flow easily and pour quickly. High viscosity fluids (honey, syrup, tar) resist flow and pour slowly. Viscosity determines pipe friction losses, pump sizing, and mixing behavior.
Pa·s (with a middle dot or multiplication sign between Pa and s). Sometimes written Pa*s or Pa-s informally. The SI symbol for poise is P.
Rotational viscometers (cone-plate, parallel plate) directly output Pa·s. Capillary viscometers measure kinematic viscosity; multiply by density to get dynamic viscosity in Pa·s.
Divide cP by 1000. It is simply moving the decimal point 3 places left. 500 cP = 0.5 Pa·s, 1 cP = 0.001 Pa·s.
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