Name: Louise D.
Status: Student
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: March 2001
Question:
What is the viscosity of sand?
Replies:
Viscosity is the resistance to flow of a liquid. Sand is a solid, so by
definition it can't have the property of viscosity.
Andy Johnson
Hi Louise!
Viscosity is the property of a fluid (liquid or gas) by which it resists
a change in shape or movement of neighbouring portions relative
to one another.So viscosity denotes the opposition to flow.
For example take a portion of honey and a portion of virgin olive oil
in 2 different cups. Incline now the 2 cups at the same angle
and observe what substance (honey or olive oil) drops faster...
That one will have higher viscosity.
Now sand is the products of rocks and minerals broken down by natural
or artificial agents. Usually what is called sand is the soil find at the
shores, sea and rivers, or at some deserts. It is solid and almost
100% silica or quartz. Being solid and crystalline has no viscosity by itself.
Thanks for asking NEWTON! Tell your friends about it!
Mabel
(Dr. Mabel Rodrigues)
Basic definition: Viscosity is the ratio of the shear stress / shear
rate -- that is, ratio of the force necessary to move an increment of fluid
at a certain speed.
The "viscosity" of sand is very variable. It depends upon the composition of
the sand, its particle size distribution, its particle shape distribution,
the amount of water in the sand, the surface coating on the particles, and
many other variables. So it is not really possible to assign a single number
to its viscosity.
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