Experiment No.

1: Properties of Fluid: Measurement of Density, Specific

Gravity, and Viscosity

Objectives of the experiment:

1. To determine mass density, specific weight, and specific gravity of liquids.
2. To determine viscosity of liquid.

Introduction
Fluids are already an integral part of our daily life. Most of the engineering specializations such as
Civil, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering require a sound understanding of fluid mechanics.

“What is a fluid?”
A fluid is a substance which continuously deforms or flows upon applied shear force. It can be
categorized into liquids and gases.

If a fluid is at rest there are no shearing forces acting.

The solutions of engineering problems in fluid mechanics require understanding of certain basic
physical properties/characteristics of the fluid of interest. In depth knowledge on behavior of fluid
properties under various circumstances enables us to better understand the mechanics of fluid
phenomenon under observation.

Fluid properties are obtained through various specially designed experiments. In present
experiment, some of the basic properties of liquids such as (mass density, specific weight, specific
gravity and viscosity) will be measured and thoroughly discussed with the aim to familiarize
students about various basic but very important fluid properties often involved in fluid phenomenon.

This experiment is organized in following two parts;

Part 1: Measurement of density, specific weight, and specific gravity

Part 2: Properties of Fluid: Measurement of Viscosity

1
1.0 Part-I: Measurement of mass density, specific weight, and specific
gravity

1.1 Related Theory

1.1.1 Mass Density

The mass density (also termed as density) of any fluid is defined as the mass per unit volume and
is denoted by (.

Mass of fluid M
 = Volume occupied by the fluid = V
Eq. (1.1)

It is normally expressed as kg per cubic meter (kg/ m3). Standard value of mass density of water at
4oC is 1000kg/ m3 or 1.938 slug/ft3 in SI and BG units respectively.

1.1.2 Specific Weight

The specific weight or the unit weight of any fluid is defined as the weight per unit volume of a
fluid and is denoted by (γ).

Weight of fluid 𝑊
γ= = Eq. (1.2)
Volume occupied by the fluid 𝑉

It is normally expressed in units of Newtons per cubic meter (N/m3), kilo-Newtons per cubic
meter (kN/m3), or pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft3). Standard values of specific weight of water on
surface of Earth at 4°C are 9.807 kN/m3 or 62.43 lb/ft3 in SI and BG units respectively.

According to Newton's 2nd law, mass and weight of any substance can be interrelated through
gravitational acceleration by;
Weight of substance = (Mass) X (Gravitational acceleration)

W=Mg

𝑊 𝑀
i.e., = 𝑔
𝑉 𝑉

Hence,
γ=ρ g Eq. (1.3)

1.1.3 Specific Gravity or Relative Density

The specific gravity (SG) (also termed as relative density, RD) of a fluid can be defined as the
mass of a given volume of a fluid divided by the mass of the same volume of water at 4°C Or
weight of a given volume of a fluid divided by the weight of the same volume of water at 4 °C.
2
 mass of a given volume of substance
SG=
mass of an equal volume of water
or
weight of a given volume of substance
SG = Eq. (1.4)
weight of an equal volume of water

W
(M/V)f ( )f
V
SG= = Eq. (1.5)
(M/V)w (W/V)w

(ρ)f (γ)f
SG= = Eq. (1.6)
(ρ)w (γ)w

Where: the subscripts f and w denotes fluid and water respectively.

1.2 Apparatus / Tools:

1. Flasks (25ml, and 50 ml)

2. Thermometer
3. Weighing balance
4. Pipette
5. Sample of liquids

1.3 Procedure:
1. First of all obtain the mass of the empty flask using weighing balance
2. Fill the flask with given liquid using pipette up to 'volume mark' indicated on the side of
the flask and determine weight of filled flask similar to step 1.
3. Measure the temperature of the liquid using thermometer.
4. Subtract the mass of the flask to get the mass of the liquid only. Since the volume of
liquid is known, the mass density, specific weight and specific gravity of the liquid can
now be directly calculated using Eqs. (1.1), (1.2) and (1.5).
5. Repeat the step 1 to 4 for other given liquids.
6. Calculate the percentage error by comparing experimental measurements with the
standard/ theoretical values.

1.4 Precautions:

(1) It is recommended to wipe off the flask using dry tissue paper before taking any
measurement.
(2) Check against any capillary error or inaccurate measurements.

Capillary action: is the movement of fluid through small passages which caused by surface
tension. The surface tension produces an upward force around the perimeter of the bottle.

3
 1.5 Measurements and Calculations

(i). using 25 ml Flask

Liquid Temp. Mass of Mass of Mass of Mass Specific Specific %

(ᵒC ) the the flask liquid density gravity weight Error
empty filled with (g) of liquid (KN/m3)
flask (g) liquid (g) (kg/ m3)

Distilled
22.20 24.25 50.43 26.18
Water
Glycerol
21.80 24.24 56.81 32.57
98

(ii). using 50 ml Flask

Liquid Temp. Mass of Mass of Mass of Mass Specific Specific %

(ᵒC ) the the flask liquid density gravity weight Error
empty filled with (g) of liquid (KN/m3)
flask (g) liquid (g) (kg/ m3)

Distilled
21.60 37.46 87.03 49.57
Water
Glycerol
22.00 41.26 104.45 63.19
98

4
2.0 Part 2: Properties of Fluid: Measurement of Viscosity- The Settling
Velocity

2.1 Related Theory

All fluids (i.e., liquids and gases) exhibit viscosity to some degree. Viscosity may be described as
fluid friction or resistance offered to the movement of one layer past another layer with which it is
in contact. The viscosity of a fluid may also be defined as a measure of its internal resistance to
gradual deformation by shear force or tensile stress.

For liquids, it corresponds to the informal notion of "thickness". For example, honey has a much
higher viscosity (Thickness) than water. A fluid which has no resistance to shear stress is called as
an ideal fluid or inviscid fluid. However, all real fluids have some degree of resistance to shear
stress, and therefore are termed as viscous.

2.1.1 Newton’s Law of Viscosity

When a fluid is sheared, it begins to move at a strain rate inversely proportional to a property called
its coefficient of viscosity. Consider a fluid element sheared in one plane by a single shear stress 
as in Figure 1. The shear strain angle  will continuously grow with time as long as the stress 
is maintained, the upper surface moving at speed u larger than the lower. Such common fluids as
water, oil, and air show a linear relation between applied shear and resulting strain rate;


 Eq. (1.7)
u

Figure 1: shear stress causes continuous shear deformation in a fluid: (a). a fluid element straining at a rate
of  / u (b). Newtonian shear stress distribution in a shear layer near a wall.

From geometry of Figure- 1 we see that

ut
tan   Eq. (1.8)
y
5
In the limit of infinitesimal changes, this becomes a relating between shear strain rate and velocity
gradient

 u
 if tan    Eq. (1.9)
t y
From Eq. (1.7), then, the applied shear is also proportional to the velocity gradient for the
common linear fluids. The constant of proportionality is the viscosity coefficient,  ,

du
  Eq. (1.10)
dy
Equation (1.10) is called Newton Law of Viscosity after Sir Isaac Newton, who first postulated
this resistance law in 1687, and fluids that follow Newton Law of Viscosity are called Newtonian
fluids.

2.1.2 Dynamic Viscosity

Dynamic viscosity also referred to as absolute viscosity, coefficient of viscosity and can be
obtained from Newton’s Law of Viscosity as;

 Eq. (1.11)
du
dy
Equation (1.11) is dimensionally consistent has dimensions of stress-time: {FT/L2} or {M/(LT)}.
The BG unit is pound-second per square foot or slugs per foot-second, and the SI unit is Netwons-
second per square meter, or kilograms per meter-second.

Widely used unit of dynamic viscosity is Poise (=0.1N.s/m2)

2.1.3 Kinematic Viscosity

Kinematic viscosity is measured in terms of flow of a known volume of fluid, and is denoted by .
Mathematically is expressed as;

 / Eq. (1.12)

Equation (1.12) has dimensions of stress-time: {L2/T} or {M/(LT)}. The BG unit is square foot
per second, and the SI unit is square meter per second.

The measured time can be used along with a formula to determine the kinematic viscosity of the
fluid in Centistokes (cSt).

Widely used unit of kinematic viscosity is Stoke (=10-4m2/s).

6
2.1.4 Measurement of Viscosity:
Instruments used to measure viscosity are called viscometer. There are varieties of viscometers
available which are typically named after the mechanism involved for measurement. Some of
those are listed below;

(a)Tube type viscometer

(b) Rotational type viscometer
(c) Falling sphere type viscometer

The following section discusses the mechanics of viscosity measurement using falling sphere type
viscometer which will be used in present experiment.

2.1.5 Falling sphere type viscometer:

It consists of a tall transparent tube or cylinder and a sphere of known diameters as shown in
Figure (2). The sphere is dropped inside the tube containing liquid and fall velocity of liquid is
estimated between to predetermined points (say A and B) in fluid to determine the viscosity of
fluid using equilibrium of forces on falling sphere.
Let S is a vertical distance between points A and B and t is the time take by sphere to fall from A
to B. The terminal velocity of fall velocity of sphere becomes,

Vt= S/t Eq. (1.13)

Figure 2 Schematic diagram of falling sphere viscometer and its free body diagram

Assuming sphere is falling in calm infinite fluid, vertical equilibriums of falling sphere consists of
following three forces;
 
W=Weight of sphere=  s vol   s  d 3 
6 

7
  
FB=Buoyancy force on sphere=  l vol   l  d 3 
6 
FD=Drag Force= 3Vd (Stoke’s Law)

W acts downward while both FB and FD acts opposite to direction of movement of sphere and
hence, according to vertical equilibrium can written as,

W=FD+FB Eq. (1.14)

   
 s  d 3    l  d 3   3Vd Eq. (1.15)
6  6 
d 2  s   l 
 Eq. (1.16)
18V

Where, d is diameter of sphere, γs is specific weight of sphere, γl is specific weight of liquid,  is

dynamic viscosity of liquid and V is falling velocity of sphere. In laboratory setting assumption
“fluid is infinite” often becomes invalid due to size limitation of viscometer. Consequently
Vt  V and discrepancy is attributed to wall effect. The ‘wall effect’ occurs when the falling
sphere is close to viscometer walls and can be estimated by;

2
V 9 d  9 d  d 1
 1        ... if  Eq. (1.17)
Vt  4 Dt   4 Dt  Dt 3

OR

1
  d   d 
3
 d 
5

Vt (Corrected )  V 1  2.104   2.09   0.95  
  Dt   Dt   Dt  

Where Vt : is the terminal velocity corrected for the wall effect.

In closing, viscosity of liquid in falling sphere viscometer becomes inversely proportion to fall
velocity of sphere. The fall velocity, V, is determined using equations (1.13) and (1.17)

2.2 Apparatus / Tools:

1. Falling sphere viscometer

2. Thermometer
3. Tweezers
4. Two spheres of varying diameter
5. Liquids
6. Stopwatch

8
2.3 Procedure:

1. Measure the temperature of the liquid (use the ambient temperature if the liquid has been
in the room for a long period of time).
2. Record the diameter of the viscometer tube and given spheres.
3. Mark starting and end point on viscometer tube such that there should be ample liquid
above the starting point and below the end point and measure vertical distance between
both points.
4. Drop the sphere gently into the viscometer using the tweezers and using stop watch record
the time of travel of sphere between marked points.
5. Repeat steps (1) to (4) more trails if required.
6. Repeat steps (1) to (5) for each sphere and liquids.
7. Apply check for wall effect using equation (1.17) and determine viscosity of liquid with
Eq. (1.16).

2.4 Precautions:

(1) It is recommended to wet the spheres with the liquid to reduce the static friction, and
eliminate air bubbles before dropping sphere in viscometer.

(2) The sphere should be dropped just at the fluid level so that the sphere will achieve
terminal velocity prior to the marked distance.

9
 2.5 Measurements and Calculations
Small Sphere

Temperature (ᵒC ) = 21.9

Diameter of viscometer (m) = 0.0915
Diameter of the sphere (m) =0.00248
Mass of sphere (g) = 0.06
Vertical distance between start and end point (mm) = 500
Specific weight of sphere (N/m3) = 73699.8
Specific weight of liquid (N/m3) = 12800

Liquid Trial Time of Terminal Corrected Dynamic Kinematic % Error

travel velocity fall viscosity viscosity
(sec) (m/s) velocity (N.s/m2) (m2/s)
(m/s)
Glycerol 1 29.22
98 2 29.20
3 29.29
Average
Average

Big Sphere

Temperature (ᵒC ) = 21.9

Diameter of viscometer (m) = 0.0915
Diameter of the sphere (m) =0.00498
Mass of sphere (g) = 0.18
Vertical distance between start and end point (mm) = 500
Specific weight of sphere (N/m3) = 73699.8
Specific weight of liquid (N/m3) = 12800

Liquid Trial Time of Terminal Corrected Dynamic Kinematic % Error

travel velocity fall viscosity viscosity
(sec) (m/s) velocity (N.s/m2) (m2/s)
(m/s)
Glycerol 1 35.13
98 2 35.70
3 35.38
Average

10
 3. Results & Discussion

In addition to the full calculations, the following aspects must be considered and discussed:

1. Calculate the uncertainty error.

2. Compare your calculated values (Experimental results) of density, viscosity, specific

gravity and specific weight with an authoritative source, and provide a copy of the source
together with the report as an appendix.

3. Will the temperature has any effect on the density (increasing or decreasing the
temperature of the liquid).

4. Show the different between mass and weight, and support your answer with equations and
units.

5. Define buoyancy force.

6. Define the terminal velocity.

7. The terminal velocity of the two spheres having different diameters would it be identical
or not, and why?

8. The settling velocity if using two liquids (glycerol and distilled water) would it be
identical or not, and why?

9. The viscosity found for the two different size spheres should it be the same or not? And
why?

10. The viscosity if using two different liquids (glycerol and distilled water) should it be the
same or not? And why?

11. Can we use the same apparatus to determine the viscosity for gas instead of liquid?

11