# Is there a uncertainty relation between viscosity and volume in fluids?

If I make no mistake, dynamic viscosity $$\eta$$ is measured in $$\rm kg /(s\, m)$$. And volume is measured in $$\rm m^3$$.

The product of the two has the same units of Planck's quantum of action $$\hbar$$, namely $$\rm kg\, m^2 /s$$. Does this mean that there is a uncertainty relation between volume and viscosity?

I have not found anything of the kind in the literature; however, usually, two quantities whose product has the units of $$\hbar$$ follow a uncertainty relation, such as position and momentum, phase and angular momentum, or energy and time.

So the question is: is there a relation of the type

$$\Delta \eta \, \Delta V \geq \hbar \ \ ?$$

This is a question about the measurement precision of physical observables: can the simultaneous measurement of the viscosity and the volume of a fluid have measurement errors that are independent of each other and can be a small as desired?

If no such relation existed, then the right hand would be zero, and then it seems that it should be possible to circumvent the usual uncertainty relation between momentum and position.

• Why do you think an uncertainty relation has anything to do with the units of the product of these quantities? – ACuriousMind Jun 2 at 17:36
• The question is on hold because it is not clear what you're asking. When you ask about a quantum uncertainty relation, you first need to exhibit a theory in which the two quantities you are asking about are actually quantum observables. What theory are you using in which the volume and viscosity are quantum operators of a system? – ACuriousMind Jun 2 at 17:54
• A measurement error is a well-defined quantity. There is no need for a theory to define them. – frauke Jun 2 at 18:06
• A quantum uncertainty is not about measurement errors, cf. e.g. physics.stackexchange.com/q/54184/50583 and its many linked questions. – ACuriousMind Jun 2 at 18:08
• @ACuriousMind OP seems to be asking whether such a theory exists. Still, the question is bad enough (and so completely sunk by its final paragraph as of v11) that I'm not particularly keen to vote to reopen in its current form. – Emilio Pisanty Jun 2 at 23:07