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Viscosity Experiment

This document describes an experiment to determine liquid viscosity using Stokes' method. The objective is to master fluid mechanics concepts and determine the dynamic viscosity coefficient of liquids. The procedure involves measuring the diameter, mass, and fall time of spheres through liquids using various equipment. Viscosity values are calculated using Stokes' Law and data tables show readings from groups. Key effects on viscosity like temperature, density, sphere properties are discussed. The conclusion notes sources of error between groups' viscosity values and ways accuracy could be improved.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
510 views17 pages

Viscosity Experiment

This document describes an experiment to determine liquid viscosity using Stokes' method. The objective is to master fluid mechanics concepts and determine the dynamic viscosity coefficient of liquids. The procedure involves measuring the diameter, mass, and fall time of spheres through liquids using various equipment. Viscosity values are calculated using Stokes' Law and data tables show readings from groups. Key effects on viscosity like temperature, density, sphere properties are discussed. The conclusion notes sources of error between groups' viscosity values and ways accuracy could be improved.

Uploaded by

mohammad. 21
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Duhok Polytechnic University Fluid Lab

Technical College Of Engineering 2nd Stage


Chemical Engineering Department

Determination of liquid Viscosity by Stock’s method

1
INTRODUCTION
Viscosity is a fundamental characteristic property of
all liquids. When a liquid flows, it has an internal
resistance to flow. Viscosity is a measure of this
resistance to flow or shear. Viscosity can also be
termed as a drag force and is a measure of the
frictional properties of the fluid. Viscosity is a
function of temperature and pressure. Although the
viscosities of both liquids and gases change with
temperature and pressure, they affect the viscosity in
a different manner.

2
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to master the
basic concepts of fluid mechanics and to determine
the dynamic coefficient of viscosity for a liquid.

EQUIPMENTS
1) Graduated cylinder.
2) Digital balance.
3) Micrometer.
4) Vernier.
5) Ruler.
6) Stop-watch.
7) Small ball.
8) Different liquids (olive oil, engine oil).

3
PROCEDURE
1) At your lab station you will find several different
spheres balls.
2) Using the micrometer or vernier to determine the
diameter of the ball or sphere. You must convert this
measurement to SI units. Next using the digital
balance scales, find the mass of the sphere. You can
now use these two numbers to determine the density
of the sphere in (g/cm3 ).
3) Next you will need to measure the fall time of the
sphere through the fluid that contained in the ( )-mL
graduated cylinder. To do this use the stopwatch to
measure the amount of time it takes for the sphere to
fall from the ( )-mL mark to the ( )-mL mark.
4) Repeat steps for the remaining two other Liquids
of different densities.
5) Measure the distance using the ruler between the
upper graduation line and the lower graduation line.

4
6) Now using the time recorded from the stopwatch
for each sphere dropped and the distance
measurement between the graduation lines,
determine the velocity of each sphere as it passed
through the fluid (cm/s).
7) Using Stokes’ Law provided in the lab manual,
determine the viscosity (µ) of the fluid using the
average velocity of the three spheres. A common
unit of viscosity is the Poise, or 1 g/cm.s.

5
READINGS
Table 1: Readings of the first group.
Liquid Ball Fluid Radius Velocity Dynamic
density density Of ball Of ball viscosity
Engine 3.45 0.88 0.375 8.73 9.02
oil g/cm3 g/cm3 cm cm/s N.s/m2

Table 2: Readings of the second group.


Liquid Ball Fluid Radius Velocity Dynamic
density density Of ball Of ball viscosity
Engine 3.21 0.83 0.385 25.75 2.98
oil g/cm3 g/cm3 cm cm/s N.s/m2

6
CALCULATION
1. Calculations of the first group:
dsphere = 0.75 cm
rsphere = = = 0.375 cm
msphere = 0.76 g
Vsphere = πr3 = π(0.375)3 = 0.22 cm3
ρsphere = = = 3.45 g/cm3
Vfluid = 250 ml = 250 cm3
mempty = 84.29 g
mfull = 298.11 g
mfluid = mfull – mempty =
= 298.11 – 84.29 = 213.82 g
ρfluid = = = 0.88 g/cm3
distance = 17.3 cm

7
time1 = 2 s
time2 = 1.98 s
time3 = 1.96 s
timeAverage = = 1.98 s

v= = = 8.73 cm/s
( )
μ=
( ) ( )( )
μ=
( )

μ = 9.02 N.s/m2

8
2. Calculations of the second group:
dsphere = 0.77 cm
rsphere = = = 0.385 cm
msphere = 0.74 g
Vsphere = πr3 = π(0.385)3 = 0.23 cm3
ρsphere = = = 3.21 g/cm3
Vfluid = 500 ml = 500 cm3
mempty = 159.4 g
mfull = 577.89 g
mfluid = mfull – mempty =
= 577.89 – 159.4 = 418.49 g
ρfluid = = = 0.83 g/cm3
distance = 17 cm

9
time1 = 0.84 s
time2 = 0.60 s
time3 = 0.56 s
timeAverage = = 0.66 s

v= = = 25.75 cm/s
( )
μ=
( ) ( )( )
μ=
( )

μ = 2.98 N.s/m2

10
DISCUSSION
1. What the effect of fluid temperature on
viscosity value?
Answer: The viscosity of liquids decreases
rapidly with an increase in temperature, and the
viscosity of gases increases with an increase in
temperature.
2. What the effect of fluid density on viscosity
value?
Answer: In general, for any fluids, when the
temperature is increased, its density decreases,
thus the fluid becomes less viscous.
3. What the effect of ball radius change on
viscosity value?
Answer: Viscosity is directly proportional to the
radius of the ball, this means if the radius
increases viscosity will also increase.

11
4. What the effect of ball density on viscosity
value?
Answer: the relationship between ball density
and viscosity is a direct relationship. If the ball
density increases, viscosity also increases.
5. What the effect of ball velocity on viscosity
value?
Answer: Viscosity has an inverse relationship
with ball velocity. When the velocity increases,
it decreases viscosity.
6. What the effect of ball weight on viscosity
value?
Answer: Viscosity is directly proportional to the
weight of the ball, this means when the weight
increases, viscosity also increases.
7. How we can get the value of ball density?
Answer: Density of the ball is found by dividing
it’s mass by volume. The mass is measured by
Digital balance and the volume is found by
measuring the radius of the ball V = πr3.
12
8. How we can measure the tube glass diameter?
Answer: The diameter of the tube glass is
measured using vernier calliper or micrometer.
9. What the effect of fluid quantity on ball
velocity?
Answer: Fluid quantity does not affect ball
velocity.
10. Should the terminal velocity of two different
size spheres be the same?
Answer: No, the terminal velocity of an object
increases with size. The larger sphere will have
a higher terminal velocity.
11. Does a larger sphere have a higher terminal
velocity?
Answer: Generally, yes. For the same shape and
material, the terminal velocity of an object
increases with size.

13
12. Should the viscosity found for two different
size spheres be the same? Why or why not?
Answer: No, the smaller sphere will have a
higher density which causes it’s viscosity to be
higher.
13. What are the shortcomings of this method?
Answer: 1) Stokes disc diffusion technique is
not as highly standardized as the Kirby Bauer
technique and is used in laboratories particularly
when the exact amount of antimicrobial in a disc
cannot be guaranteed due to difficulties in
obtaining discs and storing them correctly or
when the other conditions required for the
Kirby-Bauer technique cannot be met.
2) A low number of antibiotics are tested in a
plate.

14
14. Why should temperature be recorded?
Answer: Temperature control is the single most
important parameter for obtaining accurate and
precise kinematic viscosity measurement.
Temperature is inversely proportional to
viscosity when temperature increases viscosity
decreases so that is why temperature of
laboratory is recorded while calculating
viscosity.
15. Can this method be used for gases?
Answer: No, this method can only be used for
liquids.

15
CONCLUSION
The purpose of this lab experiment was to
determine the dynamic viscosity of engine oil
using the terminal velocity of a spheres falling
through the oil. The viscosity of the fluid was
found using the stokes’ law. For the first group,
viscosity was (9.02 N.s/m2). As for the second
group, the viscosity was (2.98 N.s/m2).

This big difference in numbers between groups


is due to some reasons. The first reason is
inconsistency in the placement of drops and
timing errors. The spheres were not all dropped
at the same spot in the top of the cylinder which
would affect the rate of fall due the strain the
wall induces on the sphere. To counter this
error, a cylinder with a large diameter should be
used in order to minimize the strain from the
walls. The second reason is the timing of the
sphere’s fall was determined using a hand-held
stopwatch which had a major effect on the
accuracy of the obtained data.
16
This error can be reduced by using vernier laser
gates to determine the free fall time. And third
reason is different amounts of material were
used by each group. All in all, the experiment
was conducted successfully however the
accuracy of the data could have been improved
by making certain alterations such as the
addition of technology.

17

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