Oscillation of liquid column in

a U – tube
Objectives:
To measure the local acceleration due to earth's gravity using a oscillating liquid in U-tube.
Materials/Apparatus: glass U-tube of uniform cross-section, stop-watch, meter ruler and
water.
Introduction
• 
• The U-tube oscillator is a sort of fluid pendulum with minimal fluid dynamics, assuming
the fluid velocity to be directed parallel to the tube. With incompressible fluid and uniform
tube cross-section, this velocity will have the same magnitude everywhere. Consider a non-
viscous liquid (water) column of length of uniform cross-sectional area (Fig. 1). Initially the
level of liquid in the limbs is the same. If the liquid on one side of the tube is depressed by
blowing gently the levels of the liquid oscillates for a short time about their initial positions
and , before coming to rest (it will start oscillating up and down).

Fig. 1: Oscillation of a liquid column in U-tube.

 Theory
• 
 If the liquid in one of the limbs is depressed by (see fig. 1), there will be a differenc
of in the liquid levels in the two limbs. At some instant, suppose the level of th
liquid on the left side of the tube is at , at a height above its original position , th
level of the liquid on the other side is then at a depth below its original position . So
the excess pressure on the liquid due to the restoring force is , i.e.:

∴ Force on the liquid = pressure×area of the cross-section of the tube

The negative sign indicates that the force towards is opposite to the displacemen
measured from at that instant. The mass of the liquid column of length is volume ×
density, i.e.:
• 

where is accelerat

We know that:

where

Here, the accelera

harmonic and the p
•  Procedures

1. Set the height () of water in one arm of th

some water.
2. Find the total length () of water in the U
arm by two ().
3. Blow gently the U-tube to make the wate
Table 1

30 60          

40 70          

50 100          

60 120          

30 60          

40 70          

50 100