Reynolds number and its relation to laminar and turbulent flow

[Kidphysics]

So I understand that Reynolds number is the ratio of intertial forces to viscous forces but how exactly does this relate to flow? Why is it that when viscous forces dominate one gets a laminar flow? How to conceptualize?

 

[Chestermiller]

So I understand that Reynolds number is the ratio of intertial forces to viscous forces but how exactly does this relate to flow? Why is it that when viscous forces dominate one gets a laminar flow? How to conceptualize?

High viscosity tends to damp out turbulent energy fluctuations.

 

[boneh3ad]

High viscosity tends to damp out turbulent energy fluctuations.

Sort of. Viscosity does tend to make a flow more stable but it also is solely responsible for certain flow instabilities that lead to transition (e.g. Tollmien-Schlichting waves).