How does temperature typically affect viscosity?

Viscosity refers to a fluid's resistance to flow, which is influenced significantly by temperature. As temperature increases, the particles within a fluid gain more energy and move faster. This increased motion allows the particles to slide past one another more easily, resulting in a reduction of the fluid’s resistance to flow, thereby decreasing its viscosity.

For example, consider the behavior of honey compared to water. At room temperature, honey is much more viscous than water; however, if heated, honey becomes more fluid and flows more readily, demonstrating a decrease in viscosity with an increase in temperature. This principle applies to many liquids, making it a widely accepted rule in fluid dynamics that increasing temperature generally leads to decreased viscosity.