FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE WATER ENGINEERING LABORATORY

COURSE CODE ECW341
LEVEL OF OPENNESS 0
CATEGORY Traditional
DEGREE OF OPEN ENDED 0
PERIOD OF ACTIVITY 1 WEEK
LAB NO 2.1
TITLE MEASUREMENT OF FLUID PROPERTIES.

INTRODUCTION

The traditional methods of conducting laboratory activities (assigned as

Level 0) will not be able to provide the avenue for students to enhance
independent learning activities and inculcate creativity and innovation.
The traditional method is fully prescriptive where the three elements
namely problem, ways & means and answers are provided/fully given to
the students.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the test is:

To determine the density, specific gravity and viscosity of the given liquids.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the laboratory works, students should be able to:

i) Conduct and construct the fluid properties laboratory experiments.

PREAMBLE (CO1 – PO4)
ii) Analyze and interpret the data based on obtained data. (CO2 –
PO6)

THEORETICAL BACKGROUNDS

DENSITY

Mass density is defined as the mass of material per unit volume (kg/m 3).
Therefore to determine density of a liquid it is necessary to determine the
mass of a known volume of liquid. Density of water can be obtained by
using formula:

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 FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Specific gravity, also called Relative density, of a substance may be

defined as the ratio of its mass density to the mass density of water
taken at atmospheric pressure at 4°C. Specific gravity of liquid can be
obtained using formula:

VISCOSITY

Viscosity is defined as the property of a liquid to resist shear deformation

increasingly with increasing rate of deformation. The density of ball can
be referred to the equipment manual and the density of liquid from the
obtained density. Kinematic viscosity can be calculated by using the
following equation:

DENSITY

Density is sometimes expressed by the dimensionless quantity specific

gravity or relative density. Thus a specific gravity less than one means that
the substance floats in water. In general, density can be changed by
changing either the pressure or the temperature. Increasing the pressure
always increases the density of a material. Increasing the temperature
generally decreases the density, but there are notable exceptions to this
generalization. The group is required to determine the density of THREE
PROBLEM STATEMENT (3) types of liquid using beaker method and density bottle method.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance compared to the

density of a reference substance. Specific gravity varies with temperature
and pressure; reference and sample must be compared at the same
temperature and pressure, or corrected to a standard reference
temperature and pressure. The group is required to determine the specific
gravity of THREE (3) types of liquid using hydrometer.

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 FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

VISCOSITY

Viscosity is a basic property of the fluid, although it can depend on

temperature (in some cases, quite strongly). Gases have much smaller
viscosities than liquids. Glycerine, honey, and corn syrup have much
higher viscosities than water or alcohol. The group is required to determine
the viscosity of THREE (3) types of liquid using viscosity apparatus.

APPARATUS & PROCEDURE

DENSITY
The apparatus for measurement of fluid density are measuring beaker,
density bottle, and triple beam balance. Figure 1 and 2 show triple beam
balance apparatus and density bottle respectively.

Figure 1 Triple beam balance Figure 2 Density Bottle

USING MEASURING BEAKER METHOD

WAYS AND MEANS
i) Measure empty beaker and record mass, (m1).
ii) Fill beaker with water at a certain volume, read and record
volume as accurately as possible (considering meniscus).
iii) Weigh the beaker with water and record the mass, (m2)

USING DENSITY BOTTLE METHOD

i) Dry bottle and stopper.

ii) Weigh the bottle with stopper and record the weight.
iii) Fill the bottle with water and replace the stopper.
iv) Carefully dry the outside of the bottle with a cloth or tissue paper
and remove any excess water from the stopper such that the
liquid in the hole is level with the top of the stopper.
v) Volume of water is 25mL when the water is level with the top of
the stopper.
vi) Weight the bottle with stopper and water. Record the mass. The
mass of water may be calculated by subtracting mass of empty
bottle with stopper.
vii) Calculate mass density.
viii) Repeat the above method using the given liquid in place of water.
ix) Calculate the specific gravity of liquid.
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 FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

SPECIFIC GRAVITY

The apparatus for measurement of fluid density are hydrometer and glass
cylinders. Figure 3 below shows hydrometer.

Figure 3 Hydrometer

i) Place tall glass cylinders on the flat working surface.

ii) Fill with a liquid and allow air to rise to the top.
iii) Carefully insert the hydrometer and allow it to settle in the centre
of the cylinder. Take care not to let it touch the sides otherwise
surface tension effects may cause errors.
iv) Read the scale, after the Hydrometer has settled at the bottom of
the free water surface i.e at the bottom of the meniscus.
v) Record the reading and take out the hydrometer.
vi) Repeat the procedure (step 3 to 5) three times.
vii) Follow above procedure for other given liquids also.
viii) Compare specific gravities of the given liquids.

VISCOSITY

The apparatus for measurement of fluid density are liquid substances,

ball guide, measuring cylinder, different diameter of balls and stopwatch.
Figure 4 shows viscosity apparatus.

Figure 4 Viscosity apparatus

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 FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

i) Fill the cylinder with liquid of approximately 1000mL.

ii) Mark the starting and ending point on the cylinder to indicate the
distance that is used to determine the travelling time.
iii) Drop the ball into the cylinder and pay attention at the starting
and ending mark.
iv) Record the travelling time of the ball. Repeat several times for the
same size of ball and take the average reading.
v) Repeat step (3) and (4) for different diameters of ball and record
the travelling time.
vi) Repeat the whole procedures for different liquids.

DENSITY

Tabulate data using the following table.

USING MEASURING BEAKER METHOD

DATA ACQUISITION
USING DENSITY BOTTLE METHOD

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 FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

SPECIFIC GRAVITY

VISCOSITY

DENSITY

The group is required to submit the technical report of the laboratory

results highlighting the apparatus used, the procedures undertaken for the
test, data acquisition process, analysis carried out, and the relevancy of
the set-out output to address the given problem.

Your report should contain:

RESULTS
Comparison of theoretical water density and experimental result. Error
should not be more than ± 1%.
Discussion about the factors that cause the differences between these
two values.
Explanation why the specific gravity of water was not calculated here
and why specific gravity is dimensionless

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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

SPECIFIC GRAVITY

Your report should include the following:

Discussion about the value of specific gravity of mercury on the moon

where the gravity is one sixth of that on the earth. Explain why if
different.
Explanation on why hydrometer sinks more in the lighter liquids than in
the heavier ones.
Explanation on why it is easy to swim in sea than swimming pools.

VISCOSITY

Your report should contain:

Calculation of
Calculation of velocity of ball which is distance divide by falling time;
v = distance/time
Explanation on why viscosity is an important property of fluid and what
engineering design should concern in the liquid viscosity.

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