1
Pa·s
1,000
cP
1,000
mPa·s
1
Pa·s
1,000
cP
1,000
mPa·s
The Poise to Pascal-Seconds Converter converts dynamic viscosity from the CGS unit (poise) to the SI unit (pascal-seconds) and practical sub-units. The exact conversion is: 1 poise = 0.1 Pa·s = 100 centipoise = 100 mPa·s.
The poise (P) is a unit of dynamic viscosity in the centimeter-gram-second (CGS) system, defined as 1 g/(cm·s). It was named after the French physicist Poiseuille, who studied viscous flow in narrow tubes. While the poise itself produces manageable numbers for many fluids (water = 0.01 P, motor oil = 1-3 P, honey = 20-100 P), the centipoise (cP) sub-unit is far more commonly used in industry because water ≈ 1 cP.
Converting poise to pascal-seconds is important when integrating viscosity data into SI-based engineering calculations. The Navier-Stokes equations, which govern fluid flow in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), require viscosity in Pa·s. Similarly, heat transfer correlations, pressure drop formulas, and dimensional analysis all expect SI units.
Our converter provides results in Pa·s (for SI calculations), centipoise (for industrial specifications), and mPa·s (the SI-compatible equivalent of cP). Since 1 cP = 1 mPa·s exactly, the last two outputs are always identical, but both are shown for clarity.
The formulas: Pa·s = poise / 10, cP = poise × 100, mPa·s = poise × 100. The factor 1/10 arises because 1 P = 1 g/(cm·s) = 0.001 kg / (0.01 m · s) = 0.1 kg/(m·s) = 0.1 Pa·s.
Reference in poise: Water ≈ 0.01 P, Ethanol ≈ 0.012 P, Engine oil ≈ 1-3 P, Honey ≈ 20-100 P, Molten glass ≈ 10⁴-10⁹ P. Molten materials and geological flows often use poise due to the very large Pa·s numbers involved.
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Water: 0.01 P = 0.001 Pa·s
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Results
3 P = 0.3 Pa·s = 300 cP
Divide by 10. 1 poise = 0.1 Pa·s. Example: 5 P = 0.5 Pa·s.
Multiply by 100. 1 poise = 100 centipoise. Example: 0.5 P = 50 cP.
1 poise = 0.1 Pa·s = 100 mPa·s = 0.1 kg/(m·s). It is equivalent to 1 dyne·s/cm² in CGS.
Poise and centipoise are deeply entrenched in industrial practice, instrument calibration, and material databases. Many viscometers still display in cP. The geological sciences use poise for magma viscosity because the numbers are more manageable.
Basaltic magma: 10-100 Pa·s (100-1000 P). Rhyolitic magma: 10⁵-10⁸ Pa·s (10⁶-10⁹ P). The enormous range reflects compositional differences.
1 poise = 1 dyne·s/cm² = 1 g/(cm·s). This is the original CGS definition using the dyne force unit.
Divide by 100. 1 cP = 0.01 P. Example: 500 cP = 5 P.
In CGS: 1 P = 1 g/(cm·s). Converting to SI: 0.001 kg / (0.01 m · s) = 0.1 kg/(m·s) = 0.1 Pa·s. The factor arises from the different base units.
Yes. Food viscosity (sauces, beverages, doughs) is commonly reported in centipoise or poise. Quality control instruments in food processing often read in cP.
Brookfield viscometers read in centipoise (cP). Capillary viscometers measure in centistokes (kinematic viscosity), which can be converted to cP by multiplying by density in g/cm³.
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