Temperature and Pressure Dependence of the Viscosity of Gases

This paper describes a method for making absolute measurements of the viscosity of gases, using timed flow through a capillary. Air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, helium, and hydrogen were studied at temperatures between 77° and 295°K. Nitrogen was also measured at pressures from 15 to 130 cm of mercury. Accuracy of 2% or 3% is obtained with relatively simple apparatus. The experiment is suitable for an undergraduate laboratory.