Stokes Conversion Tool - Convert Stokes to Any Unit
Convert Stokes to Other Units
Quick Conversions
Convert Other Units to Stokes
Quick Conversions
Related Viscosity Units
Stokes Conversion Table
This comprehensive stokes conversion table shows how various units relate to stokes, a unit for kinematic viscosity. Use this reference for quick conversions between stokes and other common viscosity units.
| Conversion | To Unit | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Stokes to centistokes | Centistokes | 100 |
| Stokes to poise | Poise | Requires density |
| Stokes to centipoise | Centipoise | Requires density |
| Stokes to pascal-seconds | Pascal-seconds | Requires density |
This stokes conversion reference table provides accurate conversion factors for kinematic viscosity units. Note that conversions to dynamic viscosity units (poise, centipoise, pascal-seconds) require knowledge of the fluid's density.
What is a Stokes?
The stokes (symbol: St) is a unit of kinematic viscosity in the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system of units. It is defined as one square centimeter per second (cm²/s). Kinematic viscosity measures a fluid's resistance to flow under gravity, which is the ratio of dynamic viscosity to density.
The stokes is used in fluid dynamics to characterize how easily fluids flow. Our stokes conversion tool helps you easily convert between stokes and other units. For example, 1 stokes equals 100 centistokes, which is a more commonly used unit for practical measurements.
What is the SI of Stokes?
The stokes is not an SI unit, but it is accepted for use with the SI. The SI derived unit for kinematic viscosity is square meters per second (m²/s). The relationship between these units is:
- 1 Stokes (St) = 0.0001 m²/s
- 1 m²/s = 10,000 Stokes
For practical purposes, the centistokes (cSt) is often used, where 1 cSt = 0.01 St. All these units are used in viscosity conversions in engineering and scientific applications.
What are Stokes Used For?
Stokes are used primarily in fluid mechanics and engineering to measure kinematic viscosity. As a unit for kinematic viscosity, stokes help characterize how fluids flow under gravity. Here are common applications for stokes conversion:
Fluid Mechanics
Characterizing fluid flow in pipes, channels, and around objects. For example, water at 20°C has a kinematic viscosity of approximately 1 centistoke (0.01 stokes).
Chemical Engineering
Designing processes involving fluid flow, mixing, and heat transfer. For instance, calculating the Reynolds number for flow regime determination requires viscosity values often expressed in stokes or centistokes.
Oil & Gas Industry
Measuring the viscosity of crude oils and refined products. Heavy oils might have kinematic viscosities of several hundred centistokes, while gasoline is typically around 0.6 centistokes.
Food Science
Evaluating the flow properties of food products like oils, syrups, and sauces. For example, honey has a kinematic viscosity of approximately 10,000 centistokes at room temperature.
Etymology and History
The unit stokes is named after Irish mathematician and physicist George Gabriel Stokes (1819-1903), who made significant contributions to fluid dynamics, including the development of Stokes' law describing the motion of small particles in viscous fluids. His work laid the foundation for understanding viscous flow and the measurement of viscosity.
The stokes was established as part of the CGS system in the 19th century. While the modern SI system uses square meters per second (m²/s) as the unit for kinematic viscosity, the stokes and its subunit, the centistokes, remain widely used in engineering practice, particularly in industries like petroleum refining and chemical processing where the CGS system is still prevalent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between stokes and poise?
Stokes (St) measures kinematic viscosity (resistance to flow under gravity), while poise (P) measures dynamic viscosity (internal resistance to flow). They're related by the formula: Kinematic Viscosity (St) = Dynamic Viscosity (P) / Density (g/cm³). Our viscosity converter helps with these conversions.
How do I convert stokes to centistokes?
Converting stokes to centistokes is straightforward: 1 stokes equals 100 centistokes. So multiply by 100 to convert from stokes to centistokes. For example, 2 stokes = 200 centistokes. Our stokes converter tool automates this for any value.
What are typical values in stokes for common fluids?
Water at 20°C has a kinematic viscosity of about 0.01 stokes (1 centistoke). Motor oil ranges from 50-100 centistokes (0.5-1 stokes), while heavy oils can be several stokes. Air has a much lower viscosity of approximately 0.00015 stokes at room temperature.
How does temperature affect stokes measurements?
Temperature significantly affects viscosity measurements in stokes. As temperature increases, most fluids become less viscous, meaning their values in stokes decrease. For accurate viscosity conversions, always specify the temperature at which the measurement was taken.
Is stokes an SI unit?
No, stokes is not an SI unit. The SI unit for kinematic viscosity is square meters per second (m²/s). However, 1 stokes equals 0.0001 m²/s. The centistokes (cSt) unit is more commonly used in practice, with 1 cSt = 0.0001 m²/s.
Why use stokes instead of SI units?
While m²/s is the SI unit, stokes and centistokes remain popular in engineering practice because they yield more convenient numerical values for common fluids. For example, water's viscosity is about 1 centistoke rather than 0.000001 m²/s, making stokes more practical.
How do I convert stokes to pascal-seconds?
Converting stokes to pascal-seconds requires knowing the fluid's density. The relationship is: Dynamic Viscosity (Pa·s) = Kinematic Viscosity (St) × Density (kg/m³) / 10,000. For example, if a fluid has 1 St viscosity and density of 1000 kg/m³, its dynamic viscosity is 0.1 Pa·s.
Is your stokes conversion tool free to use?
Yes, our stokes conversion calculator is completely free with no registration required. Simply enter your value, select your target unit, and get instant, accurate results. We believe precise measurement conversion should be accessible to everyone, from students learning fluid mechanics to professionals working on engineering projects.