Ubbelohde's viscometer

0817CW - Classic Kit - Leo Ubbelohde (index)

Source: Image courtesy of the US Library of Congress

Measuring viscosity is a sticky subject

Most of us think we have an intuitive feel for viscosity, but trying to define and measure it can get quite sticky. Leo Ubbelohde invented a device that could measure viscosity precisely, giving us a better understanding of a fundamental phenomenon essential to life on Earth.