Mutah University
Chemical Engineering Department
Fluid Mechanics Lab - Experiment #1
Fluid Properties: Density, Viscosity and Surface
Tension
Dr – Saja T Al-Bdairat
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Table of contents
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..……….4
Objectives
experimental
Equipment & Methodology………………………………………………………………….8
Calculation & Results
1- Density……………………………………………………………………………………….11
2- Viscosity…………………………………………………………………………………..…12
3- surface tension…………………………………………………………………..………13
Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………........14
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….……..…..17
Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………….….……18
References…………………………………............................................................19
Tables and figures:
Figure #1: Figure 1hydrometer tubes
Figure#2: capillary tube
Figure # 3 Measures that were actually taken in the lab
Table #1: Specific Gravities as measured for different types of oils using Hydrometer.
Table #2: Parameters needed to calculate viscosity.
Table #3: True vs Experimental densities of different oils (Bearing, Engine and gear).
Table #4: True and experimental viscosities for gear oil and bearing oil.
Table #5: Experimental and theoretical heights in three different capillary tubes
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Abstract
In this experiment, we explored various properties of fluids, including
specific gravity, viscosity, and surface tension. We also examined the
methods and tools used to measure these properties, such as using the
falling ball method for viscosity measurement, comparing the densities of
different oils, and using tubes of varying diameters to study the effect of
diameter on surface tension.
Our findings indicated that engine oil had the highest density, followed by
gear oil, and then bearing oil. Additionally, we observed that the viscosity
of bearing oil was higher than that of gear oil. Regarding surface tension,
we noted that the water level in the tube increased as the tube diameter
decreased.
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1. INTRODUCTION
This experiment aims to study fluid properties such as density, viscosity, and
surface tension, using various measurement techniques to understand how these
properties affect fluid behavior under different conditions.
2. Objective
To understand the significance of various fluid properties.
To familiarize the student of the techniques used to measure these properties
3. theory
Density :
Density is defined as mass per unit volume.
In physical terms, density measures how tightly matter is packed within a
substance.
The density of a material depends on temperature and pressure.
-There are three methods to measure density:
*for Liquid
-The first method:
1) Ensure the beaker is empty, then weigh it.
2) Fill the beaker with the liquid whose density you want to measure, up to a
specified volume according to the graduations on the beaker, and weigh it again.
The difference between the mass of the filled beaker and the empty beaker gives
the mass of the liquid.
3) Divide the mass of the liquid by the volume to obtain the density.
-the second method:
specific gravity: is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a
reference substance usually [Link] is typically measured using a hydrometer
𝑆𝐺=
𝜌
𝜌 𝑟𝑒𝑓
(ρ) density
-the third method:
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involves measuring buoyant force exerted on a submerged object.
Buoyant force is defined : the difference between the weight of an object in air
and the weight of the object in liquid
* For Gases:
The density of ideal gaseous materials can be calculated using the ideal gas law,
which relates the molar mass (MW), absolute pressure (P), absolute temperature
(T), and the gas constant (R). For non-ideal or real gases, other laws and
corrections may be applied to account for deviations from ideal behavior.
VISCOSITY:
Viscosity is a physical quantity that describes a fluid’s resistance to flow. It is a
property that resists the relative displacement of the different layers of the fluid. It
can be considered as the fluid friction occurring inside the fluid due to the
internal friction between the molecules. Viscosity is a primary factor in
determining the forces to overcome when fluids are used in lubrication.
When an object falls through a fluid medium and reaches its terminal velocity, it
attains a constant final velocity. If the terminal velocity is sufficiently low, the
forces acting on the object can be described with precise expressions
2 (ρ s − ρ)
μoil = (Rg)
9 v
Where:
𝜌 is the density
v is the sphere's velocity,
R is the radius of the sphere
µ is the viscosity of the liquid
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Surface tension:
Surface tension is a phenomenon that occurs due to the cohesive forces of liquid
molecules. The molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted by their
neighbors from the sides and bottom. As a result, the liquid surface forms a “skin”
with minimum surface area and energy.
Inter-molecular forces like hydrogen bonding and Van der Waals forces hold the
molecules together. Within the body of a liquid, molecules do not experience any
force because the interactive forces from the neighboring molecules cancel out.
On the surface, the molecules are attracted from the sides and bottom. No water
molecules exist on the top; hence, no attractive forces from the top. As a result,
the surface molecules contract and resist stretching and rupture. The surface is
under tension, which explains the origin of the word surface tension.
π 2
w=ρgℎ d
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4. Procedure:
three types of oil
a- Gear oil
b- Bearing oil
c- Engine oil
1-Density:
1-Fill the graduated cylinder with the fluid.
2- Place the hydrometer into the cylinder and take the specific gravity reading of
the oil inside the cylinder.
3- Record the reading on the hydrometer scale at the fluid's surface level.
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the equation we’ll need:
4- Calculate the density of the other two oils by returning the second and third
steps.
2-Viscosity:
1- Measure the diameter of the sphere using a micrometer.
2- Drop the sphere into the cylinder on the surface of the first oil, and start the
timer simultaneously.
3-Stop the timer when the sphere reaches the final mark..
4- Calculate the velocity of the sphere in the first oil by dividing the distance
traveled by the time recorded.
5- calculate the viscosity of the first oil by :-
6- repeat steps (2 - 5) for the second and third oil.
7- Then calculate the viscosity
3-Surface Tension:
1-fill the capillary tubes with fluid(water).
2- The water rises initially because it moves from a region of high concentration
to low concentration until the height in the capillary tube equals the height at the
fluid's surface h1 . Then, due to the stronger adhesive forces between the water
and glass compared to the cohesive forces between water molecules, the water
continues to rise to a certain height and settles at this new height (h2).
3- Measure the difference in height (Δh) using a ruler.
4- Calculate the diameter of the capillary tubes and determine the surface
tension of the fluid.
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Calculation & Results
Part 1: Density 𝜌
Table #1: Specific Gravities as measured for different types of oils using Hydrometer
Type of Oil SG
Bearing Oil 0.80
Engine Oil 0.88
Gear Oil 0.82
- The Hydrometer gives me the specific gravities directly so we will be calculating
the density through SG’s:
𝜌𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 0.80 ∙ 1000
kg
3
m
kg
= 800 3
m
𝜌𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 0.88 ∙ 1000
kg
3
m
kg
= 880 3
m
𝜌𝑔𝑒𝑎𝑟 = 0.82 ∙ 1000
kg
3
m
kg
= 820 3
m
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Part 2: Viscosity 𝜇
Table #2: Parameters needed to calculate viscosity.
Type of oil Time(s) D of ball(mm) Distance(mm) Velocity
Bearing 0.74 4.71 75 0.1014
Gear 0.68 4.71 75 0.1103
D 0.075
v 1=
T 0.74
= 0.1014m/s
D 0.075
v 2=
T 0.68 = 0.1103m/s
D 4.71
R 1=
2 2
= 2.355mm=0.002355m
R2=R1=0.002355m
𝜌 iron = 7800kg/m^3
2 (ρ s − ρ)
μoil = (Rg)
9 v
2 (7800 −800)
μoil = (0.002355 ×9.81)
9 0.1014
µ Bearing= 354.411 pa.s
2 (7800 −820)
μoil = (0.002355 ×9.81)
9 0.1103
µ Gear= 324.883 pa.s
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Part 3: Surface Tension 𝜎
D ρgℎ
σ=
4
4σ
D=
ρgℎ
mN
σ water= 72.74
M
kg
ρwater =1000 3
m
m
g=9.81 2
S
4 × 72.74
D 1=
1000 ×9.81 ×0.004
D1= 7.415mm
4 ×72.74
D 2=
1000 ×9.81 ×0.003
D2=¿ 9.887mm
4 × 72.74
D 3=
1000 ×9.81 × 0.005
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D3=¿ 5.932mm
Discussion:
Part 1: Density 𝜌
*After we calculated the Specific Gravities for three different oils. Bearing oil,
Engine oil and Gear oil
we noticed a difference between the results we obtained from the experiment
compared to the theoretical results that because
1- the oils on which we conducted the experiment were mixed together, due to
the transfer of the hydrometer from one oil to another without being cleaned.
2- Measure reading errors
3- There are a lot of different types of any oil. For example, there are more than
one type of bearing oil (M150, M220, M320, M460 and M680) but unfortunately
at the lab we were not informed what are the types of our oils.
*We searched for the three oils densities and found that:
𝜌𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 877.13
kg
3
m
𝜌𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 872.5
kg
3
m
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𝜌𝑔𝑒𝑎𝑟 = 896
kg
3
m
Comparing these values to the experimental data we notice some differences:
Table #3: True vs Experimental densities of different oils (Bearing, Engine and gear(
Type of oil kg kg Error %
True values ( 3) Experimental( 3)
m m
Bearing 877.13 800 8.793%
Engine 872.5 880 0.859%
Gear 896 820 8.482%
Part 2: Viscosity 𝜇
The reason for the error :
1-was that we threw the ball from above the pipe and turned on the timer While
the correct way is holding the ball with tongs and touching it to the surface of the
oil and running the timer while dropping it at the same time
2-Falling-ball Viscometer was used to measure the viscosity of Bearing oil and
Gear oil. Actually, there is no device to measure the viscosity directly so the main
goal from using the viscometer is to measure the distance per unit time which
translates to velocity. By implementing this velocity into the equation of viscosity
we attain the viscosity for different oils
3-Time recording errors
4-Lubricant oils in general tend to get oxidated especially when they are exposed
to the air just as our oils in the laboratory. We think they have been exposed for
so long that their standard chemical properties have changed.
Comparing true values with the calculated (experimented) ones:
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Table #4: True and experimental viscosities for gear oil and bearing oil.
Type of oil True value(pa.s) Experimental( pa.s) Error%
Bearing 305.1 354.411 0.16%
Gear 303.87 324.883 0.069%
Which gives that:
2 (ρ s − ρ)
μoil = (Rg)
9 v
Part 3: Surface Tension 𝜎
We measured the height for three capillary tubes with different dimeters. At the
end we concluded that the narrower the diameter the larger height of water
column.
When we compared the experimental heights with the theoretical heights we
noticed a difference between the values Because :
1- Contamination of capillary tubes
2- the water was not pure because of the bottom part of the holder was
rusty.
Table #5: Experimental and theoretical heights in three different capillary tubes
Tube N.O Experimental Theoretical
1 4mm
2 3mm
3 5mm
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So I think if I repeat the experiment after correcting the previous errors, I
will get more accurate results
Conclusion:
According to the experiment we successfully measured the density
by determining the specific gravity for the oils by using the
hydrometer.
The density of the engine oil was higher, followed by the gear oil and
finally the bearing oil
And we measured the viscosity by using the falling-ball Viscometer
through finding the velocity of the ball in each oil to calculate the
viscosity.
We noticed that the viscosity of bearing oil is higher than that of gear oil
And for the surface tension, we notice that the height of the water in the tube
increased with the decrease in the diameter of the tube
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Appendix
Part 1: Density 𝜌
Table #1: Specific Gravities as measured for different types of oils using Hydrometer.
Type of Oil SG
Bearing Oil 0.80
Engine 0.88
Gear Oil 0.82
We used this data table to calculate the densities for the oils.
Part 2:Viscosity 𝜇
Table #2: Parameters needed to calculate viscosity.
Type of oil Time (s) D of ball (mm) Distance (m) Velocity (m/s)
Bearing 0.74 4.71 0.075 0.1014
Gear 0.68 4.71 0.075 0.1103
Part 3: Surface Tension
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5mm
4mm
Figure # 3 Measures that were actually taken in the lab
This figure was helpful with comparing experimental heights with theoretical
heights
References:
[1] Perry’s handbook Page: 2-91 “Densities of pure substances” (table 2-28)
[2] Perry’s handbook Page: 2-119 “Densities of Miscellaneous materials”
(Table 2-118)
[3] Fluid Mechanics for Chemical Engineers book by Noel de Nevers Page: 16
(Table 1.1) 3rd edition
[4] Mobil⢠Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90. (n.d.).
[Link] ds/gl-xx-
3mm
mobil-synthetic-gear-oil-75w-90
[5] Phillips 66 Lubricants. (2020, December 3). BEARING OIL M.
[Link]
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