60

Method 2: Type the six data points into Excel and run a cubic “trendline” fit. The result is

Differentiating this polynomial at gives Ans. (a)

Differentiating this polynomial at gives Ans. (b)

C1.8 A mechanical device, which uses the rotating cylinder of Fig. C1.6, is the Stormer
viscometer [Ref. 29 of Chap. 1]. Instead of being driven at constant Ω, a cord is wrapped
around the shaft and attached to a falling weight W. The time t to turn the shaft a given number of
revolutions (usually 5) is measured and correlated with viscosity. The Stormer formula is

where A and B are constants which are determined by calibrating the device with a known
fluid. Here are calibration data for a Stormer viscometer tested in glycerol, using a weight of
50 N:

µ, kg/m·s: 0.23 0.34 0.57 0.84 1.15

t, sec: 15 23 38 56 77
(a) Find reasonable values of A and B to fit this calibration data. [Hint: The data are not very
sensitive to the value of B.] (b) A more viscous fluid is tested with a 100-N weight and the
measured time is 44 s. Estimate the viscosity of this fluid.

Solution: (a) The data fit well, with a standard deviation of about 0.17 s in the value of t, to
the values

A ≈ 3000 and B ≈ 3.5 Ans. (a)

(b) With a new fluid and a new weight, the values of A and B should nevertheless be the
same:

kg
solve for µ new fluid ≈ 1.42 Ans. (b)
m⋅s

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 61

C1.9 The lever in Fig. C1.9 has a weight W

at one end and is tied to a cylinder at the other end. L1 L2
W
The cylinder has negligible weight and buoyancy
and slides upward through a film of heavy oil of V1 pivot
viscosity µ . (a) If there is no acceleration (uniform Cylinder, diameter D,
length L, in an oil film of V2?
lever rotation) derive a formula for the rate of thickness ΔR
fall V2 of the weight. Neglect the lever weight.
Assume a linear velocity profile in the oil film. Fig. C1.9
(b) Estimate the fall velocity of the weight if W = 20 N, L1 = 75 cm, L2 = 50 cm, D = 10 cm, L = 22
cm, ΔR = 1 mm, and the oil is glycerin at 20°C.

Solution: (a) If the motion is uniform, no acceleration, then the moments balance about the pivot:
V1
∑M pivot = 0 = WL2 − F1 L1 , where F1 = τ w Aw = (µ
ΔR
)(π DL)

Since the lever is rigid, the endpoint velocities vary according to their lengths from the pivot:
V1 = Ω L1 ; V2 = Ω L2 ∴ V1 / L1 = V2 / L2

Combine these two relations to obtain the desired solution for a highly viscous fluid:
W ΔR
V2 = V1 (L2 / L1 ) = (L2 / L1 )2 Ans.(a)
µ π DL

(b) For glycerin at 20°C, from Table A.3, µ = 1.49 kg/m-s. The formula above yields
W ΔR L2 2 (20 N )(0.001m) 75 cm 2 m
V2 = ( ) = 2
( ) ≈ 0.44 Ans.(b)
µ π DL L1 (1.49N − s / m )π (0.1m)(0.22 m) 50 cm s

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C1.10 A popular gravity-driven instrument is the Cannon-Ubbelohde viscometer, shown in

Fig. C1.10. The test liquid is drawn up above the bulb on the right side and allowed to drain by
gravity through the capillary tube below the bulb. The time t for the meniscus to pass from upper to
lower timing marks is recorded. The kinematic viscosity is computed by the simple formula ν = Ct,
where C is a calibration constant. For ν in the range of 100-500 mm2/s, the recommended constant
is C = 0.50 mm2/s2, with an accuracy less than 0.5%.
62

upper timing mark

bulb of known volume

Fig. C1.10 lower timing mark

capillary tube
The Cannon-
Ubbelohde
viscometer.
reservoir

(a) What liquids from Table A.3 are in this viscosity range? (b) Is the calibration formula
dimensionally consistent? (c) What system properties might the constant C depend upon?
(d) What problem in this chapter hints at a formula for estimating the viscosity?

Solution: (a) Very hard to tell, because values of ν are not listed – sorry, I’ll add these values if I
remember. It turns out that only three of these 17 liquids are in the 100-500 mm2/s range: SAE
10W, 10W30, and 30W oils, at 120, 194, and 326 mm2/s respectively. (b) No, the formula is
dimensionally inconsistent because C has units; thus C = 0.5 is appropriate only for a mm2/s result.
(c) Hidden in C are the length and diameter of the capillary tube and the acceleration of gravity - see
Eq. (6.12) later. (d) Problem P1.58 gives a formula for flow through a capillary tube. If the flow is
vertical and gravity driven, Δp = ρgL and Q = (π/4)d2V, leaving a new formula as follows: ν ≈
gd2/(32V).
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C1.11 Mott [Ref. 49, p. 38] discusses a simple falling-ball viscometer, which we can analyze later
in Chapter 7. A small ball of diameter D and density ρ b falls though a tube of test liquid.
The fall velocity V is calculated by the time to fall a measured distance. The formula for
calculating the viscosity of the fluid is

This result is limited by the requirement that the Reynolds number (ρVD/µ) be less than 1.0.
Suppose a steel ball (SG = 7.87) of diameter 2.2 mm falls in SAE 25W oil (SG = 0.88) at 20°C. The
measured fall velocity is 8.4 cm/s. (a) What is the viscosity of the oil, in kg/m-s? (b) Is the
Reynolds number small enough for a valid estimate?

Solution: Relating SG to water, Eq. (1.7), the steel density is 7.87(1000) = 7870 kg/m3 and the oil
density is 0.88(1000) = 880 kg/m3. Using SI units, the formula predicts

As mentioned, we shall analyze this falling sphere problem in Chapter 7.

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 63

C1.12 A solid aluminum disk (SG = 2.7) is 5 cm in diameter and 0.5 cm thick. It slides
steadily down a 14° incline that is coated with a castor oil (SG = 0.96) film 0.25 mm thick.
The steady slide velocity is 2 cm/s. Using Figure A.1 and a linear oil velocity profile
assumption, estimate the temperature of the castor oil.

Solution: This problem fits the sketch in Fig. P1.50.

W = ρ alum g Ah = (2700 kg / m3 )(9.81m / s2 ){π (0.05 / 2)2 }(0.005 m) = 0.26 N

The weight component along the incline balances the shear stress, in the castor oil, times the
bottom flat area of the disk.

V 0.02 m / s
W sin θ = µ A , or : (0.26N )sin(14 ) = µ [ ]π (0.05 / 2)2
h −3
(0.25 × 10 ) m
Solve for µoil ≈ 0.40 kg / (m − s)

Looking on Fig. A.1 for castor oil, this viscosity corresponds approximately to 30°C Ans.
The specific gravity of the castor oil was a red herring and is not needed. Note also that, since
W is proportional to disk bottom area A, that area cancels out and is not needed.
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