Experimental determination of the wall effect, viscosity, and impact of

temperature for spheres falling axially in cylindrical vessel

Reported by: Khun Borin ; ID1621010901, Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanoi university of
Mining and Geology, Hanoi,10-Oct-20

Abstract
For this experiment we will investigation the use of settling sphere viscometer to determine the
viscosity of fluids at room temperature. By testing the liquids and recording the time that it
takes for the ball to travel through the tube the viscosity of the liquid can be determined. The
falling ball viscometer typically measures the viscosity of Newtonian liquids and gases. The
method applies Newton’s law of motion under force balance on a falling sphere ball when it
reaches a terminal velocity. In Newton’s law of motion for a falling ball, there exist buoyancy
force, weight force, and drag force, and these three forces reach a net force of zero. The drag
force can be obtained from Stokes’ law, which is valid in Reynolds numbers less than.
Determine the relationship between the coefficient of drag and the Reynolds number.

1. Introduction
The viscosity of a liquid is the property representing the initial resistance of the fluid to motion.
The viscosity of a liquid is created due to the movement of particles within liquid crating
friction. The higher the value of the viscosity, the more the liquid resists motion due to a large
amount of friction. The same theory applies to low viscosity fluids; they resist motion far less
due to minimal friction in the molecular structure of the fluids itself. Liquid is not the only state
of matter that has the property of viscosity. Viscosity can also be measured for gases, and a
falling ball viscometer is one way to determine the viscosity of not only liquids but gases as
wall. The viscosity of a liquid is needed for many fluid mechanics problems, such as designing
piping systems. Fluid mechanics is not the only subject in which viscosity is important; it can
even be used in fields as diverse as food sciences and baking.

FD is The drag force .

FG is The force by weight or Called Gravity force.
 2. Experimental Methodology and procedure

Consider a sphere with diameter d and specific weight Gamma(s), falling at a constant velocity
V through a liquid with viscosity µ, specific weight Gamma(l), and density ƒ. The forces acting on
the sphere are shown in Figure1. There we will follow some methods

1. Stokes’ Law and Reynolds Number

Stokes’ Law is a proposition that relates the drag force experienced by a falling sphere to the
sphere’s (constant) velocity in a liquid of known viscosity.

where F d is the drag force, is the liquid viscosity, V is the (terminal) velocity, and d is the
diameter of the sphere.
Since the sphere is falling with constant velocity there is a balance of forces that result in no
acceleration.
where F d is the drag force on the sphere, F b is the buoyant force, and mg is the weight of the
sphere (mass multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity).
This buoyant force experienced by the sphere can be described as:

where is the buoyant force, is the liquid’s density, and d is the sphere’s diameter .

The weight of the sphere can be described as:

where m is the sphere’s mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, is the sphere’s density, and d
is the sphere’s diameter.

Thus, the drag force can be related by Equations 3 and 4:

where F d is the drag force, is the sphere’s density, is the fluid’s density, d is the sphere’s
diameter, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
By using a falling ball viscometer, we can determine the sphere’s terminal velocity and also
calculate the drag force using Equation 5. Stokes’ Law will be verified if the calculated drag force
approximates that described in Equation 1. However, we must first determine if Stokes’ Law is
applicable by finding the Reynolds number for the flow.

Stokes’ Law will suffice as a sufficient model if the flow is smooth and non -turbulent. We can
determine this smoothness by calculating Reynolds number:
where Re is Reynolds number, is the fluid density, V is the characteristic velocity, d is the
characteristic flow length, and is the fluid viscosity .

After some algebraic manipulation, the following expression for µ in terms of Gamma(s) and (l), d,
and V can be obtained.

(7)

Then Drag coefficient would express by : (8) C D = 24/Re or Ln (C D ) = Ln(24) – Ln(Re)

Database

There are the information constant data in experiment procedure:

Table1. Test spheres

Steel balls Ball1 Ball2 Ball3

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Diameter(cm) 0.92 0.922 0.918 0.672 0.672 0.69 0.51 0.508 0.51
Mass(g) 3.85 3.85 3.84 1.06 1.06 1.07 0.25 0.25 0.25

Plastic balls Ball1 Ball2 Ball3

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Diameter(cm) 1.902 1.903 1.902 1.302 1.302 1.303 0.92 0.921 0.921
Mass(g) 3.1 3.12 3.11 0.99 0.99 0.98 0.16 0.16 0.162

Tabl2. Test liquid

No. liquid Density at room tem. 30 °C Viscosity at room tem. 30 °C

1. Soap 1.03 g/ml 36.00 CP

2. Paraffin oil 0.83 g/ml 12.50 CP

3.Results
The velocity of the three types of steel balls were made and see the results can be found in
each of graph Y = ax + b where a is the slop, (velocity).

y = 7.9964x + 100.16
Chart Title
140 R² = 0.9996 y = 3.2417x + 100.27
R² = 0.9984 y = 1.7363x + 100.14
120 R² = 0.9998

100 Ball1
Axis Title

80 Ball2

60 Ball3

40 Linear (Ball1)
Linear (Ball2)
20
Linear (Ball3)
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Axis Title

Velocity of ball1 = 7.9964 cm/s, Velocity of ball2 = 3.2417 cm/s, Velocity of ball3 = 17363 cm/s
 Graph of Drag coefficient
Ln(Cd )= Ln(24) – Ln(Re) CD Reynold number Ln(CD) Ln(Re)
(Y=b–x) 137.7112 0.174277749 4.925158824 -1.747104994
382.3998 0.062761541 5.946466631 -2.7684128
950.3713 0.025253289 6.856852709 -3.678798878
Terminal velocity
Based on a set of experimental data measurements of velocity, the typical result of the
variation in terminal velocity with particle diameter may be represented. Figure1.

d/D Vter
0.09781 6.633810055
0.072082 3.2417
0.05415 1.7363

Figure 1: Terminal velocities of eleven steel spheres in a fall tube.

Viscosity
To determine the viscosity we draw the Y = ax +b as below:
the similar equation: { d^2/Vter = µ*18/(ds-dl) }

V(terminal)/d^2 (ds-dl)g/18
7.837677286 4.583170812
7.052018343 2.994386876
6.692996012 1.409078873
 Chart Title
8

7.8 y = 0.3607x + 6.1138

R² = 0.956
7.6

7.4
Axis Title

7.2
Series1
7
Linear (Series1)
6.8

6.6

6.4
0 1 2 3 4 5
Axis Title

Viscosity will be the slop of the graph above, hence we get

µ = 0.3607 g/cm.s
by 1g/cm.s = 10^2 CP
So, µ = (0.3607 * 10^2) = 36.07 CP

Conclusion
The experimental results show that the viscosity of falling sphere testing in calculating nearly
similar to the viscosity were measured by viscometer, 36.07 CP compare to 36.00 CP which the
error is 0.07. Through this field of experiment we can study the wall effect is relative to terminal
velocity and the ratio of diameter of spheres to Diameter of tube, and we can determine the
relation coefficient of drag ( CD ) to Reynolds numbers by plot the coefficient of drag and
analyst the curve.

Referent:
1.Feng, Zhi-Gang. (9/3/2012). Laboratory Exercise #3: Stokes’ Law and Reynolds Number
2.Almeida, O. P. (1995), "Estudo do Efeito de Fronteiras Rígidas Sobre a Velocidade Terminal de
Partículas Isométricas", M.Sc. thesis, COPPE - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de
Janeiro, 80 p.. [ Links ]
3.Chhabra, R. P., Tiu, C. and Uhlherr, P. H. T. (1981), "A Study of Wall Effects on the Motion of a
Sphere in Viscoelastic Fluids", The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, vol. 59, pp. 771-
775. [ Links ]
In added wesite
1.https://www.academia.edu/23305311/Falling_Sphere_Viscometer
2.https://www.americanlaboratory.com/913-Technical-Articles/778-Measurement-of-Viscosity-
in-a-Vertical-Falling-Ball-Viscometer/

3.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.2019.0277
 soap big steel Ball1 medium steel Ball2 small steel Ball3
Height(cm) 1 rt time 2nd time 3rd time Average velocity(cm) 1 rt time 2nd time 3rd time Average velocity 1 rt time 2nd time 3rd time Average velocity
100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Appendix

105 0.6 0.59 0.61 8.334876972 1.45 1.43 1.44 3.47233386 2.75 2.74 2.74 1.822605618
110 1.2 1.18 1.22 8.334876972 2.91 2.9 2.91 3.409126208 5.61 5.6 5.6 1.748251748
115 1.85 1.83 1.87 7.692307692 4.45 4.4 4.39 3.319488319 8.54 8.53 8.53 1.706484642
120 2.5 2.47 2.53 7.693521756 6.2 6.15 6.17 2.841091493 11.5 11.3 11.33 1.759985876
Velocity(cm) 8 8.097166 7.905138 8.000768111 3.225806 3.252033 3.241491 3.239776686 1.739 1.769 1.765 1.757666667
From line Y = ax+b , we will get velocity equal 7.9964 3.2417 1.7363
Velocity terminal 6.633810055 3.2417 1.7363
We know that (1g/cm.s = 10^2 cp
Viscosity(cp) = 0.3607 g/cm.s = 0.3607 * 10^2 = 36.07 (cp)
Nearly similar to viscosty measured by viscometer=36(cp)
Reynolds number 0.174277749 0.062761541 0.025253289
Note according to research paper where d/D<0.1 , we have V/Vter = 1/(1+2.1*d/D)

soap Ball1 Ball2 Ball3

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Diameter(cm) 0.92 0.922 0.918 0.672 0.672 0.69 0.51 0.508 0.51
Mass(g) 3.85 3.85 3.84 1.06 1.06 1.07 0.25 0.25 0.25
Volume(cm^3) 0.407513 0.410177 0.404861 0.158813 0.158813 0.17192 0.069421 0.068607 0.069421
Average volume(cm^3) 0.407517238 0.163181944 0.069149518
Diameter of Tume(cm) 9.4 9.4 9.42
Average diameter of tube(cm) 9.406 9.406 9.406 9.406 9.406 9.406 9.406 9.406 9.406
density of Soap(g/cm^3) 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03
density of steel spheres(g/cm^3) 9.447542 9.386195 9.484726 6.674514 6.674514 6.223836 3.601232 3.643934 3.601232
density of steel in research(g/cm^3) 8.05 8.05 8.05 8.05 8.05 8.05 8.05 8.05 8.05
specific weight of Sphere(N/cm^3) 0.092756 0.092154 0.093121 0.06553 0.06553 0.061106 0.035357 0.035776 0.035357
specific weight of steel(N/cm^3) 0.078971 0.078971 0.078971 0.078971 0.078971 0.078971 0.078971 0.078971 0.078971
specific weight of Soap(N/cm^3) 0.010104 0.010104 0.010104 0.010104 0.010104 0.010104 0.010104 0.010104 0.010104
Average diameter of Sphere(cm) 0.92 0.678 0.509333333
The ratio d/D 0.097809909 0.07208165 0.054149833
 parafin oil big plastic Ball1 medium lpastic Ball2 small clear plastic Ball3
Height 1 rt time 2nd time 3rd time Average velocity 1 rt time 2nd time 3rd time Average velocity 1 rt time 2nd time 3rd time Average velocity
[cm] [s] [s] [s] (cm/s) [s] [s] [s] (cm/s) [s] [s] [s] (cm/s)
10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 0.7 0.68 0.69 7.24739171 0.47 0.49 0.53 10.09211392 1 1.1 1.3 4.463869464
20 1.41 1.39 1.4 7.042253521 0.97 0.98 1.08 9.764996908 2.25 2.27 2.46 4.194616367
25 2.16 2.14 2.15 6.666666667 1.47 1.49 1.64 9.577497666 3.75 3.79 3.96 3.31871345
30 2.98 2.9 2.94 6.335207423 2 2.1 2.2 8.853085001 4.8 4.9 5 4.691367191
Velocity(cm/s) 6.711409 6.896552 6.802721 6.803560736 10 9.52381 9.090909 9.538239538 4.166667 4.081633 4 4.08276644
From line Y = ax+b , we will get velocity equal 6.73213 9.9957 4.0315
( d/D< 0.2 , so V/Vterminal= 1-2.104(d/D)+2.09(d/D)^3-0.95(d/D)^5 )
( d/D< 0.9 , so V/Vterminal= ((1-(d/D)/(1-0.475(d/D))^4 )
Velocity terminal (cm/s) 11.45214372 14.28601503 5.132797588
We know that (1g/cm.s)= 10^2 (cp)
Viscosity measured by viscometer= 12.5 (cp)

Mass(g) 3.1 3.12 3.11 0.99 0.99 0.98 0.16 0.16 0.162
Volume(cm^3) 3.600891 3.606573 3.600891 1.155078 1.155078 1.157742 0.407513 0.408844 0.408844
Average volume(cm^3) 3.602784878 1.15596594 0.408400249
Diameter of Tube(cm) 8.9 8.9 9
Average Diameter of Tube(cm) 8.933333333 8.933333333 8.933333333
Average diameter of sphere(cm) 1.902333333 1.302333333 0.920666667
density of Parafin oil(g/cm^3) 0.83 0.83 0.83
density of sphere (g/cm^3) 0.860898 0.865087 0.863675 0.857085 0.857085 0.846476 0.392625 0.391348 0.396239
Average density of sphere(g/cm^3) 0.863220139 0.853548459 0.393404073
The Ratio d/D 0.212947761 0.145783582 0.103059701