Centistokes

A unit of viscosity measurement equivalent to 1 millimeter squared per second. This value quantifies a liquid’s rate of flow under the influence of gravity.

For thin liquids like water, oil, or paint kinematic viscometers can be used. The simplest versions feature a cup with an orifice at the bottom. The cup is filled and then a time measurement is taken.

For thicker liquids, a dynamic viscometer can be used. This type of viscometer uses a rotating spindle submerged in sample liquid. This measures the shear stresses as the liquid creates viscous drag. This has the added benefit of measuring a liquid's shear sensitivity.

No, not exactly. Centipoise (cP) measures a fluid’s internal resistance to flow – in other words, how thick is the liquid.

Centistokes measures a liquid’s kinematic viscosity which is the ratio of the resistance to flow and density. Basically, how fast does the liquid move under the influence of gravity.