Theviscosityof afluidis a measure of itsresistanceto gradual deformation byshear stressortensile stress. For liquids, it corresponds to the informal notion of "thickness". For example,honeyhas a much higher viscosity thanwater.
Viscosity is due to thefrictionbetween neighboring particles in a fluid that are moving at differentvelocities. When the fluid is forced through a tube, the fluid generally moves faster near the axis and very slowly near the walls; therefore, somestress(such as a pressuredifference between the two ends of the tube) is needed to overcome the friction between layers and keep the fluid moving. For the same velocity pattern, the stress required is proportional to the fluid's viscosity. A liquid's viscosity depends on the size and shape of its particles and the attractions between the particles.