LAB 5

Date: February 24, 2025

Title: Viscosity

Aim: To determine the coefficient viscosity of a liquid by plotting the

graph between the terminal velocity and square of the radius of a
spherical body.

Apparatus/Materials: Long wide glass tube (approximately 1m in length,

5cm in diameter), steel balls of various diameters, given viscous liquid,
stopwatch, micrometer screw gauge, clamp stand, meter ruler, thread

Theory: A sphere falling through a viscous liquid is acted on by three forces

viz, its own weight acting vertically downwards and the forces of viscosity
and buoyancy acting vertically upwards. As the ball moves through the
liquid, the viscous force increases and this force together with the force of
buoyancy balances the downward force.
Thereafter the ball moves with a uniform velocity called terminal velocity (v).

Diagram:
Variables:
● Independent Variable - balls used.

● Dependent Variable - terminal velocity.

● Controlled Variable - viscous liquid used, glass tube.

Procedure:
The diameter (d) of the ball bearings was measured using a screw gauge,
and the radius (r) was calculated using the relation . The glass jar was
cleaned and filled with the viscous fluid, and a metre ruler was placed
vertically beside the jar. The inner diameter of the jar was measured using
a vernier caliper, and the inner radius (R) was determined. Two reference
points, A and B, were marked on the jar using threads, with point A
positioned well below the liquid’s surface to ensure the ball had reached
terminal velocity before passing it. Thread B was adjusted so that the
distance between A and B was 50 cm. The ball of known diameter was
gently dropped into the liquid; it initially accelerated and then moved with
uniform terminal velocity. When the ball passed point A, the stopwatch was
started, and the time taken to reach point B was recorded. Since d
represents the distance moved by the ball and t represents the time taken,
velocity is:

v’ = d/t

The terminal velocity (v) of the ball was calculated using the relation:

v = v’ (1 + s.4k/R5

The coefficient of viscosity of the liquid was then calculated using the formula:

η = (s/95 * (ks (ps - ơf5 g5/v

The experiment was repeated with balls of different diameters, and the
value of r²/v was calculated each time. Finally, a graph of terminal
velocity against r² was plotted, and the coefficient of viscosity was
obtained from the slope of the graph.
i. e; η = (s/95 ⁄ (ps - ơf5 g * 1/slofic
 Results:

Table Showing the Data Collected from the Experiment Conducted

Ball Radius of theRadius of Time Time [Link], v’ Terminal r²/v (m/s)

Bearing ball the 1 (s) 2 (s) Time= s/t (m/s) velocity, v
No. bearing, r glass (s) = v’ [1+(2.4r/R)]
(×10-3 m) tube (m/s)
(×10-2
m)

2.5 1.5 43.8 43.8 43.8 0.014 0.020 0.0003125

2 3.0 1.5 32.1 32.1 32.1 0.019 0.028 0.0003214

3 3.5 1.5 24.9 24.9 24.9 0.024 0.037 0.0005104

4 4.0 1.5 20.0 20.0 20.0 0.030 0.049 0.0005333

5 4.5 1.5 15.5 15.5 15.5 0.035 0.052 0.0005525

Calculations: (Using Ball Bearing No.1)

7clociľD
v’ = d/t
= 0.6 m/43.8 s
∴ v’ = 0.014 ms-1

Tc»mi»»l 7clociľD
v = v’ [1+(s.4k/R5]
= 0.014 ms-1 [1+(s.4⁄s./⁄10-3 m/1./⁄10-s m5]
∴ v = 0.0s0 ms-1

G»»kic»ľ of ľhc G»»fih

m = ys - y1 / xs - x1
= 0.066 ms-1 - 0.013 ms-1 / (s.16⁄10-/5 ms - (4.s⁄10-65 ms
= 0.0/3 ms-1 / 1.74⁄10-/ ms
∴ m = 3046 m-1s-1
 Cocfficic»ľ of 7iscosiľD of ľhc GlDcc»i»c
η = (s/95 ⁄ (ps - ơf5 g * 1/slofic
= (s/95 ⁄ (s600 kg m-3 - 1s60 kg m-35 × 9.81 ms-2 * (1/3046 m-1s-15
∴ η = 0.96 kg m-1 s-1

Discussion:
Viscosity is the ability of a fluid to resist flow. It arises from the internal
friction between particles of the liquid as they move past one another.
When a small spherical body falls through a viscous fluid such as glycerin,
three forces act on it: its weight acting downward, and the buoyant force
together with the viscous (drag) force acting upward.

Sir George Stokes established the relationship between the viscous drag
force and the velocity of a spherical body moving through a fluid. Stokes’
Law states that the viscous force acting on a sphere is:

Fv = 5πηkv

where η is the coefficient of viscosity of the fluid, k is the radius of the

sphere, and v is its velocity.

As the sphere falls, its speed increases until the upward forces (viscous
force and buoyancy) equal the downward weight. At this point, the
resultant force becomes zero and the sphere moves with constant terminal
velocity. Using this condition and rearranging Stokes’ Law, the coefficient of
viscosity (η) of the fluid can be expressed as:

η = (s/95 * (ks (ps - ơf5 g5/v

where ‘ps’ is the density of the sphere, ‘ơf’ is the density of glycerin, ‘g’
is gravitational acceleration, and ‘v’ is terminal velocity.
Since ks is directly proportional to v, a graph of ks against terminal velocity
produced a straight line. The slope of this graph was then used in the equation:

η = (s/95 ⁄ (ps - ơf5 g * slofic

By substituting the experimental values and the slope into this expression,
the coefficient of viscosity of glycerine was determined.

Sources of Error;
1) Human reaction time may have affected the starting and
stopping of the stopwatch.

2) The ball may not have reached true terminal velocity before passing
point A.

3) Air bubbles may have adhered to the ball and affected its motion.

4) The temperature in the lab may have fluctuated, thereby causing

the fluid’s viscosity to change slightly at different times.

Precautions:
1) It was ensured that the glass tube was held securely in place by the
clamp stand.

2) It was ensured that the two rubber bands are parallel to each other.

3) The micrometer screw gauge and vernier caliper were checked

for zero error and calibrated before use.

4) All readings were taken from eye level so as to avoid parallax error.

Conclusion: By means of a graph drawn, the coefficient of viscosity of the

glycerine was determined to be 0.95 kg•m-1•s-1.