Rheology

(noun. /ree-AW-luh-gee/) 

by Siena Mantooth

What does it mean? 

Rheology is the study of the flow of fluids and solids. It is a branch of physics. In rheology, one common experiment is determining the stiffness and viscosity of materials. To determine these, a force is applied to a material to deform it, and a machine called a rheometer measures the material’s response to the force. These tests provide important information for the application of many different products, such as the spreadability of lotions, the coating of paints, and the mouthfeel of food. 

How do I use it in a sentence?

“The rheology of the blue paint demonstrated that it was thicker and more viscous than the yellow paint.”

This image depicts a rheometer, which is a machine used in rheology. The rheometer rotates the top plate, holding the bottom plate still. The machine measures the material’s resistance to the rotation of the top plate and provides the data values to the user. Image from biorender.com. 

Etymology

Rheology comes from two Greek words: ῥέω (rhéō) ‘flow’ and -λoγία (-logia) ‘study of. It literally means “the study of flow.” 

Related Terms

Stress
Strain
Viscosity
Storage Modulus
Loss Modulus

Fields of study in which this word is commonly used

Materials
Food, Geophysics
Physiology 

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