The viscosity and shear elasticity of liquid are determined by measuring the resonant frequency and conductance of a torsional crystal immersed in the liquid to be measured.
Procedure of measurement has been simplified by using a phase-sensitive detector circuit for measuring the conductance instead of an electrical bridge used by Mason and Rouse in their previous investigations.
Viscosities of saveral organic solvents measured by this method agree with those measured by Ubbelohde viscometers within two per cent.
Measured viscoelatic properties of solution of polymethyl methacrylate in benzen are in good agreement with Rouse's theory.