Convert Centipoises to Poises
Convert Centipoises (cP) to Poises (P) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
P = cP × 0.01
About Centipoises
The centipoise (cP) equals 10⁻³ Pa·s, numerically equal to 1 mPa·s. It remains the most widely used practical unit in industry because water at 20 °C has a viscosity of almost exactly 1 cP. Process engineers, petroleum analysts, and food technologists all specify viscosity in cP. Motor oil SAE 10W has a cold-viscosity limit of ≈3 500 cP at -25 °C. 1 cP = 10⁻³ Pa·s = 10⁻² P.
About Poises
The poise (P) equals 0.1 Pa·s (exact), defined in the CGS system as 1 g/(cm·s). Named after Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille, it was the dominant viscosity unit before SI adoption. Fluid-mechanics textbooks and older ASTM and API data tables still list viscosities in P. Motor oil at 100 °C is ≈0.02-0.05 P; water at 20 °C is ≈0.01 P (= 1 cP). 1 P = 0.1 Pa·s = 100 cP.
Quick Reference Table
| Centipoises (cP) | Poises (P) |
|---|---|
| 1 cP | 0.01 P |
| 2 cP | 0.02 P |
| 5 cP | 0.05 P |
| 10 cP | 0.1 P |
| 25 cP | 0.25 P |
| 50 cP | 0.5 P |
| 100 cP | 1 P |