Comparing viscosities – thick syrup versus water A thick liquid such as syrup exhibits a __________ viscosity than a light liquid such as water (under the same temperature conditions).

Introduction / Context:
Viscosity governs the resistance to flow and shear in fluids. Everyday comparisons—pouring water versus syrup—provide intuitive evidence of differences in dynamic viscosity.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Both liquids are considered at the same temperature (viscosity is temperature-dependent).
• Newtonian behaviour is assumed for simplicity; many syrups are close to Newtonian over moderate shear rates.
• No dissolved gas effects are considered.

Concept / Approach:
Dynamic viscosity μ links shear stress to velocity gradient: τ = μ * (du/dy). A higher μ means a greater shear stress is required to achieve the same rate of deformation. Syrups and oils have much larger μ than water; thus, for the same driving head, they flow more slowly through the same constriction.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Define viscosity comparison: if μ_syrup » μ_water, then at a given gradient, τ_syrup » τ_water.Step 2: In laminar pipe flow, volumetric flow rate Q ∝ 1/μ for fixed pressure drop; hence Q_syrup < Q_water under identical conditions.Step 3: Conclude that syrup has a greater viscosity than water.

Verification / Alternative check:
Data tables: at 20 °C, water μ ≈ 1.0×10^-3 Pa·s, while many syrups can exceed 1 Pa·s by orders of magnitude, confirming “greater” by factors of hundreds to thousands.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Lesser or identical: contradicts measurements.
• Time-oscillating: viscosity is not inherently oscillatory for these fluids.
• “Applies only to gases”: false—viscosity is a property of all fluids, including liquids.

Common Pitfalls:
Ignoring temperature effects; a warm syrup can have dramatically lower μ than a cold one, but still typically greater than water at the same temperature.

Final Answer:
greater