Fluid property – resistance to relative layer motion The property of a liquid that offers resistance to the movement of one layer over another adjacent layer is called:

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: viscosity

Explanation:

Introduction:Several fluid properties influence different phenomena. This question seeks the term for internal friction that resists sliding motion between neighbouring fluid layers.

Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Layers experience relative motion under shear.
  • Liquid is Newtonian for simplicity.
  • External factors like temperature may affect property magnitude but not the definition.

Concept / Approach:Viscosity quantifies resistance to deformation in shear. The higher the viscosity, the larger the shear stress required to maintain a given velocity gradient across layers.

Step-by-Step Solution:1) Identify the phenomenon: resistance to sliding between layers.2) Recall the constitutive law τ = μ * (du/dy).3) The property μ (dynamic viscosity) is therefore the correct descriptor.

Verification / Alternative check:Everyday comparison—water vs. honey—illustrates that higher μ liquids flow more slowly for the same driving head.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Surface tension governs interfaces, not bulk shear.
  • Compressibility relates to volume change with pressure.
  • Capillarity concerns surface tension/meniscus effects in small tubes.
  • Elasticity describes solids or transient liquid compressibility, not steady shear resistance.

Common Pitfalls:Mixing up ν (m^2/s) with μ (Pa·s); both increase resistance, but units and meaning differ.

Final Answer:viscosity

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