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'''Viscosity''' is a measure of the [[resistance]] of a fluid which is being deformed by either shear [[stress]] or extensional stress. In everyday terms (and for fluids only), viscosity is "thickness". Thus, [[water]] is "thin", having a lower viscosity, while honey is "thick", having a higher viscosity. Viscosity describes a fluid's internal resistance to [[flow]] and may be [[thought]] of as a [[measure]] of fluid friction. For example, high-viscosity magma will [[create]] a tall, steep stratovolcano, because it cannot flow far before it cools, while low-viscosity lava will create a wide, shallow-sloped shield volcano. Put [[Simplicity|simply]], the less viscous something is, the greater its ease of [[movement]] (fluidity). [1] All real fluids (except [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfluid superfluids]) have some resistance to stress, but a fluid which has no resistance to shear stress is known as an [[ideal]] fluid or inviscid fluid. The study of viscosity is known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheology rheology].
'''Viscosity''' is a measure of the [[resistance]] of a fluid which is being deformed by either shear [[stress]] or extensional stress. In everyday terms (and for fluids only), viscosity is "thickness". Thus, [[water]] is "thin", having a lower viscosity, while honey is "thick", having a higher viscosity. Viscosity describes a fluid's internal resistance to [[flow]] and may be [[thought]] of as a [[measure]] of fluid friction. For example, high-viscosity magma will [[create]] a tall, steep stratovolcano, because it cannot flow far before it cools, while low-viscosity lava will create a wide, shallow-sloped shield volcano. Put [[Simplicity|simply]], the less viscous something is, the greater its ease of [[movement]] (fluidity). [1] All real fluids (except [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfluid superfluids]) have some resistance to stress, but a fluid which has no resistance to shear stress is known as an [[ideal]] fluid or inviscid fluid. The study of viscosity is known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheology rheology].
==Etymology==
==Etymology==
