KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY
(KNUST)

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS (KNUST – Kumasi)

FACULTY OF PHYSICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE POISEULLE’S LAW

ACHEMPONG BISMARK

4668618

BSC. METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATE SCIENCE

18TH DECEMBER, 2018

 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page Number

Abstract 2
Introduction 3
Diagram of Setup 4
Method/Procedure 5
Observation Table (Data) 6
Graph of observation table 7
Theory and Calculations 8–9
Results and Discussions 10
Error Analysis 11
Precautions 12
Conclusion 13
References 14

1
 ABSTRACT

The aim of this experiment was to infer on Poiseuille’s law, a single set-up based on two flasks

joined by a detached tube allows one to measure using tables of different radii and lengths. One of

the flasks was connected to a vacuum pump to control the pressure differential between the tube

extremes.

The influence in different radii, lengths, pressure and viscosities can be studies in a didactic way by

measuring the flow rate of the variables.

The experiment can be performed getting together the students in groups so that each group

concentrates on the effect on the flow of a specific variable, leaving the rest fixed. After putting

together all these results, the law of Poiseuille’s can be obtained as a very good approval.

Such behaviour is attributed to Poiseuille’s law, expressed as follows (landau and Lifshitz, 1784)

𝜋𝑎4 𝑃
𝑄=
8𝑛𝑙

Where Q is the flow rate or volume per unit time, 𝑎 and 𝑙 are radius and height of the tube

respectively, 𝑛 is the viscosity of the fluid and 𝑝 is the pressure at the end of the tube.

2
 INTRODUCTION

The study of the flow of seal fluids lengths tubes is of considerable interest in basic science

(physics, chemistry) in biomedical science (hemodynamics, biorheology, etc. Kornat et al (2001)

and in engineering (chemical engineering, industrial engineering, oil drilling etc). Students thereof

are familiarized with the theory of the laws regulating flow, though such knowledge is typically

limited to laminas flow through a cylindrical tube for small records numbers (Jou et al, 1994)

Such behaviour is attributable to Poiseuille’s law, expressed as follows (landau and Lifshitz, 1784)

𝜋𝑅 4 𝑃
𝑄=
8𝑛𝑙

Where Q is the flow rate or volume per unit time, 𝑅 and 𝑙 are radius and height of the tube

respectively, 𝑛 is the viscosity of the fluid and 𝑝 is the pressure at the end of the tube.

3
 DIAGRAM OF SETUP

The diagram below illustrates experimental setup in studying Poiseuille’s law.

4
 METHOD/PROCEDURE

Apparatus required includes;

a. Capillary tube
b. Constant Level Vessel
c. Beaker
d. Electronic Balance
e. Stop watch
f. Metre rule
g. Travelling Microscope.

With a tube length 𝑙= 10 cm and pressure height ℎ= 5 cm, the flow with 𝑄 is determined.
Before all, water from the tank is made to flow through a capillary tube of length 𝑙 and radius to a
beaker/measuring cylinder. Time taken for the water to flow through the tube is recorded.
Electronic balance is made available for collecting water in the beaker to be measured (mass).
Readings on the beaker is recorded. The rate at which water flows through the beaker determines
the flow rate Q = 𝑉⁄𝑡. The mass is used to determine the density of water which aids in calculation
of the pressure of each height.

𝑃 = 𝜌ℎ𝑔
𝜋𝑎4 𝑃
The rate 𝑄 = can be used to determine the viscosity 𝑛 of the fluid. A graph of 𝑄 is plotted
8𝑛𝑙
against 𝑃 in which the slope calculated is used to determine viscosity.

5
 OBSERVATION TABLE

Below is the table of values obtained in the study of Poisuelle’s law.

𝑙 = 10 𝑐𝑚, 𝑔 = 10 𝑚/𝑠, 𝑅 = 1.107𝑐𝑚

𝑉 𝑚
h/ cm V/ ml t/ s 𝑄= / ml m/ g 𝑃= P = 𝜌𝑔ℎ/ m
𝑡 𝑉
5.0 20.0 120 0.167 35.7 1.875 93.75
10.0 37.5 120 0.313 50.8 1.355 135.50
15.0 64.0 120 0.533 76.8 1.200 180.00

20.0 86.0 120 0.717 95.9 1.115 223.00

6
GRAPH OF OBSERVATION TABLE
A graph of Q/ ms-1 against P/ Pa
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
Q/ m/s

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 50 100 150 200 250
P/ Pa

7
 THEORY AND CALCULATIONS

Water from a tank is made to flow through a capillary tube of length 𝑙 and radius 𝑎, fhe flow of the
liquid through the capillary tube is assumed steady and the velocity of the liquid along the walls is
zero and is maximum along the axis of the tube.
Considering a cylindrical layer of the liquid co-axial with the tube of inner radius 𝑟 and outer radius
𝑟 + 𝑑𝑟. The velocity of the liquid at a distance 𝑟 from the axis of the tube is 𝑣 and at a distance 𝑟 +
𝑑𝑣
𝑑𝑟 is 𝑣 − 𝑑𝑣, so that = is the velocity gradient. The surface area of the cylinder = 2𝜋𝑟𝑙.
𝑑𝑟

The tangential force exerted by the outer layer on the inner layer opposite to the direction of motion
is
𝑑𝑣
𝐹 = −ŋ. 2𝜋𝑟𝑙
𝑑𝑟

The forward push due to the difference of pressure 𝑃 on the two sides of the cylinder of radius 𝑟 is
𝑃 x 𝜋𝑟2. When the motion is steady, there is no acceleration of the liquid and thus, we have
𝑑𝑣
𝐹 = −ŋ. 2𝜋𝑟𝑙 = 𝑃 x 𝜋𝑟2
𝑑𝑟

𝑃
𝑑𝑣 = − 𝑟𝑑𝑟
2ŋ𝑙

𝑃 𝑟2
Integrating 𝑣 = − x + C, where C is the constant of integration.
2ŋ𝑙 2

But as the velocity of the liquid along the sides of the tube is zero, therefore if 𝑟 = 𝑎 then 𝑣 = 0.
𝑃 𝑎2
𝐶 = 2ŋ𝑙 2

𝑃
Hence 𝑣 = (𝑎2 − 𝑟2 )
4ŋ𝑙

This gives the average velocity of the liquid flowing through the cylindrical layer. The cross-
sectional area of the cylindrical layer of radius 𝑟 and thickness 𝑑𝑟 is 2𝜋𝑟𝑑𝑟.
Therefore, the volume of liquid passing through this area is 𝑑𝑉 = 𝑣. 2𝜋𝑑𝑟
Hence the volume of liquid passing through the whole tube per second is given by

𝑑
∫ 𝑑𝑄 = ∫𝑎 2𝜋𝑣𝑟 𝑑𝑟

8
 𝑑 𝑃
𝑄 = 2𝜋 ∫𝑎 ( 𝑎2 − 𝑟 2 )𝑟𝑑𝑟
4ŋ𝑙

𝜋𝑎4 𝑃
Finally; 𝑄 = … (2)
8𝑛𝑙

From equation 2, we have 𝑄 = 𝑓(𝑃, 𝑎, 𝑙, ŋ). For a capillary of a given bore size, flow rate depends
on pressure 𝑃, and length 𝑙 of capillary. In this work, we are using water as our fluid and going to
study the dependence of the flow rate on the pressure difference and the length of the circulating
liquid.

∆𝑄
Slope =
∆𝑃

0.80−0.20 0.6
= =
240−105 185

= 4.44 x 10-3

𝜋𝑎4 𝑃
𝑄=
8𝑛𝑙
𝜋𝑎4 𝑃
⇒ 8𝑛𝑙 =
𝑄

𝜋𝑎4 𝑃
⇒𝑛= but 𝑄⁄𝑃 = slope
8𝑄𝑙

1
⇒ 𝑃⁄𝑄 =
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒

1
⇒ 𝑃⁄𝑄 = = 225
4.44 𝑥 10−3

But
𝜋𝑎4
𝑛= x 𝑃⁄𝑄
8𝑙

𝜋 (0.1107)4 𝑥 225
⇒𝑛=
80

Therefore, 𝑛 = 1.327
9
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

With the proposed, Poisuelle’s law is being inferred, which determines the flow rate of fluid/water
through a tube by means of experimental design that clearly demonstrates the different steps in the
exercises
A proposed set-up is relatively simple and inexpensive and offers very satisfactory results. The
added advantage is that the layout can also be used as a capillary viscometer for Newtonian and
non-Newtonian fluids since it allows us to modify the flow velocity by varying the pressure
difference between the ends of the tube.

10
 ERROR ANALYSIS

Error was calculated as follows;

𝜋𝑎4 𝑃 𝜋𝑎4 𝑃
𝑄= ⇒ 𝑛=
8𝑛𝑙 8𝑄𝑙

πa4 P
⇒ log n = log
8Ql

log π+4log a+log P

⇒ log n =
8 log Q+log l

⇒ log n = 4log a + log P − 8 log Q − log l

⇒ log n = 4 log a + log P − 8 log Q − log l

δn δa δP δQ δl
⇒ =4 + −8 −
n a P Q l

0.01 0.001 1.0 0.001

⇒ δn = (4 + −8 − )n
1.11 1.386 10.0 0.433

⇒ δ n = - 0.79

Therefore, δ n = ± 0.7

11
 PRECAUTIONS

1. It was ensured that no leakages occurred in order to avoid error due to parallax when
readings were taken.

2. The beaker was cleaned very well to remove residual water in beaker in order to prevent
interference with the volume of each step.

3. It was ensured that flow of water in the tube was steady

4. It was also ensured that readings taken were done correctly in order to achieve near zero
error values or results.

12
 CONCLUSION

The experiment was aimed at studying the Poisuelle’s law using the displacement method. The

methodology proved successful with an n value of 1.327 ± 0.7 obtained implied very satisfactory

results. The added advantage is that the layout can also be used as a capillary viscometer for

Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids since it allows us to modify the flow velocity by varying the

pressure difference between the ends of the tube. Experimental procedures are proven to be reliable

and hence recommended for further similar experiments.

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 REFERENCES:

1. Cox A. J and Junkin W. F, (2002), Enhanced Students learning in Introductory Physics,

Laboratory Physics Education pp 37 – 44.

2. Heron P. R. L, Loverude M. E, Shaffer P. S and McDermott L.C (2003), Helping students

develop an understanding of Archimedes Principle molt 1996 mechànica de fluids applicade
(Mexico Practice Hall Hispanoamericana).

3. Reginald, M. N., David W. S., Smith and Van-Dyke, S. A (2018) Laboratory manual in
Experimental Physics I, Department of Physics K. N. U. S. T, pp. 16 – 17.

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