Homework 4

Viscosity is probably the single most important property of a hydraulic fluid. You will likely come
across fluid specifications listed in the CGS metric system (centimeter-gram-second) as
opposed to the traditional SI or English units. This exercise will make you become more familiar
with relevant units.

Answer the following:

a) Using SI base units (kg, m, s, N), what is 1 dyne (or dyn) equivalent to?
b) What are the units of (absolute) viscosity for the CGS system?
c) What are the units of kinematic viscosity for the CGS system?
d) Using SI base units (kg, m, s, N), what is 1 centistoke equivalent to?
e) Briefly describe what a Saybolt Universal Second (SUS) is.
f) An oil has a viscosity of 230 SUS. Find the corresponding viscosity in units of centistoke
(cS) and centipoise (cP). The specific gravity of the oil is 0.9.