Scribd
Upload
7 views

Viscosity Experiment Procedure EXPERIMENT

Uploaded by

bpnaujienos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
7 views

Viscosity Experiment Procedure EXPERIMENT

Uploaded by

bpnaujienos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Experiment to Determine the Viscosity of a Liquid

Aim of the Experiment


To determine the viscosity coefficient of a liquid by observing the motion of a small sphere falling through it.

Materials Needed
- Measuring cylinder or tall, straight-walled glass container (at least 30 cm high).

- Small metal or glass sphere (e.g., made of lead or steel).

- The liquid whose viscosity you want to measure (such as water or oil).

- Stopwatch (or phone timer).

- Ruler or marked measuring cylinder (or place markers on the glass container).

- Thermometer (to measure the temperature, as it can affect viscosity).

- Scale (for measuring the mass of the sphere).

- Tweezers or tongs (for holding the sphere).

Experimental Procedure

Preparation
Fill the measuring cylinder or glass container with the liquid being tested. Make sure the liquid is stable and free of
bubbles.

Measure the Sphere’s Mass and Radius


Weigh the sphere and measure its diameter to calculate its radius (r). If the sphere is
uniformly shaped, you can precisely determine its volume and density, which will be
needed later.

Release the Sphere


Gently lower the sphere into the liquid using tweezers or tongs to avoid adding any extra
initial velocity. Ensure it moves straight down.

Measure the Falling Time


Start the timer when the sphere reaches the first marked point and stop it when it
reaches the second marked point. The cylinder should be tall enough to allow the sphere
to reach a steady speed.

Repeat the Experiment


Perform the experiment several times with the same liquid and sphere to get reliable
average results.
Calculations

1. Calculate the Falling Speed


Using the recorded time (t) and the distance between the marks (s), calculate the terminal velocity (v) of the
sphere:

2. Determine the Viscosity of the Liquid


Use Stokes' formula to calculate the viscosity coefficient:

where:

Notes
- Since temperature can influence viscosity, measure the liquid’s temperature and record it along with your results.

- To ensure accuracy, try using multiple spheres of different radii and repeat the experiment several times.

You might also like