EXPERIMENT 5

AIM
To determine the coefficient of viseosity of a given viscous liquid by measuring the terminal velo
locity
of a given sphericalbody.

WHAT YU REQUIRE
A Two large cork-pieces which may be fllded
cylinderical glass pipe about 1 m in length and 5 cm in diameter.
on either end of the pipe, a cork borer, an iron stand with clamps, a thistle funnel with stem of at least 5 mmm
diameter, experimental to fill the pipe, spherical metal balls of different
liquid (say Glycerine) enough sizo
sizes

(say lead shots), metre scale, stopwatch, thread, thermometerand screw gauge.

PREREQUISITE
Viscosity a general property of fluids which determines their tendency to oppose their flow. Different
is
fuids
have different values of viscosity expressed in terms of Coefficient of viscosity.
Coefficient of viscosity of a fluid is defined as the force per unit area per unit velocity gradient acting between
its different layers to oppose their relative motion.

4du
sI unit of coeficient of viscosity is Newton second metre2 (Nsm) or poiseuille (P) C.G.S. unit is poise.

1 Pl = 10 Poise., therefore poiseuille also called decapoise.

When a solid falls in a fluid, it
experiences a resistive force due to viscosity of the fluid. The viscous drag
F,

experienced by a sphere of radius r, moving in a fluid of

viscosity n, with velocity v, is given by

F 6Tnrv.
Due the viscous drag the net force and hence
to
acceleration of the body decreases and ultimately it attains
a constant velocity called terminal
velocity, given by

2p-o8
9
when r is the radius of spherical body
p and o are densities of the material of spherical body and the vIscous
liquid.

THEORY

The coefficient
of viscosity of a fluid is given
by n= 2rp-o)g where
r =radius of the falling sphere.

p density of the material of the sphere.

a density of the fluid.

g acceleration due to gravity at the place.

and v,
=terminal velocity of the falling sphere

here y is the distance of the sphere falls

through in t second.

118 7agether with Physics Lab Manual-11

 STEPS TO ERFORM THE EXPERIMENT
.
SYSTEMATIC
Seal one end of
the glass pipe by putting cork and making it leak proof with wax if need be.

Hold the pipe vertically

in the iron stand by clamping near its open end at the top.

Fillthe pipe with glycerine. cork

3.
bore. Put the
at the centre of the cork and insert the stem of the thistle funnel in the
A Bore a hole
the pipe so that the lower end of the funnel is immersed in glycerine.
in the opening of
in the funnel
the cork closes the opening without leakage of glycerine. Put some more glycerine
5. See that
it fills its stem completely.
so that

Select lead shots of five different sizes take at least 3 of each size.
the middle. Tie up
6.
in
on the glass tube separated by a distance of about 50 cm, nearly
7. Mark two points
between the threads
threadsA and B around the tube at these points. Measure the distance
two cotton be cm.
of a netre scale. Let it l
with the help

Funnel

Cork

Clamp

A Thread

Glycerine
5U cm

Stand
B
Paper
Thread

Strip
Lead Shots

set-up
Fig. B-5.1. Experimental

it be
8 Measure the temperature of glycerine. Let 6,°C
directions. Find mean radius r, cm.
in two mutually perpendicular
S Measure the radius of a lead shot
and place it gently on glycerine in funnel.
Start stopwatch as the lead shot
10.
Dip the lead shot in glycerine in falling
B. Note down time t the lead shot takes
passes thread A and stop it when it passes thread

. through distance l.

Kepeat steps 9 and 10 for

velocity u, for lead shots
Calculate

of radius
terminal

two more
r
velocity v

lead shots of the

radii
=cm s
same radius and

and determine corresponding

calculate mean value

terminal
of terminal

velocities.
12. for lead shots of different
Repeat steps 9, 10, 11
end of the experiment. Let it be 0,°C.
0Measure the temperature of glycerine at the

OBSERVATION
1. Least count of thermometer = C
of glycerine in the beginning of the experiment 0,
= C
1emperature
6,
= °C.
emperatureof glycerine at the end of the experiment

Mean value of temperatureof glycerine

6= C
of constants)
noted from the table
Density of glycerine at 0°C (as
table of constants) = 8 cms.
Density of lead shots (as noted from the

Section B: Experiments 119

 4. Least count of screw
gauge cm.
Zero
gauge =
error of screw cm
6. Terminal velocities for lead shots of different radi.

TABLE FOR RADIUS AND TERMINAL VELOCITY OF LEAD SHOT

Diameter of lead shot Dis- Time Taken
tance
Mean Terminal
along
one di
along pe
Mean
etween Lead Lead Lead Mean
pendicular diameter Radius
velocity

ameter diameter threads

and
shot-1 shot-2 shot-3
tt,+t, ,=
dt+d A
(cm)
d
(cm)
2
(cm)
(s)
3
(s) (cm s)
(cm) (cm)
1.

2.

3.

CALCULATION
Plot a graphbetween (taken along x-axis)
Fig. B-5.2. and u,(taken along
y-axis). The graphwill be a
straight line asshownin
The slope of the =tan
graph =
PR ST
Coefficient of
viscosity, n = P-o8- 2
9(ory9 (p-o)g tan
Poise
Pl.

R
S
(cm)
Fig. B-5.2.
Graph between
r2
versus v
120 7agetherwith Lab
Physics
Manual-11
RESULT
oraph between
betweer terminal
)Thegraph velocity (u,) and square
of radius
The coeficient of
viscosity of glycerine (2) is a straight line which imples
at
is PI
O
PER CENT ERROR
The value of coetficient of
actual viscosity at
Cas noted from table of
constants Pl.
error = ActualValue ExperimentalValue
Per cent Actual Value x 100

PRECAUTIONS
1Thelead shots should be of small size so that the
time of fall
may be long enough to be measured
accurately.

9Beforedropping in the liquid the

lead shots be
on
throughly immersed in glycerine so that air bubbles are
not accumulated it.

3. Lead shots are seldom of uniform

diameter, therefore, measuring diameter in two mutually
diameter is a must. perpendicular

4. A slight changein temperature may result in a

large change in the value of coefficient of viscosity. Therefore,
do not forget to measure temperature in the
of glycerine beginning and end of the
experiment.
5. Ensure that glycerine is pure.

6. Take all
precautions necessary for the use of screw
gauge.
7. The bore in the cork should be exactly at the centre so
that the lead shot may fall
along the axis of the
tube.

SOURCES OF ERROOR
1. Lead shots may not be spherical.
2. not be pure.
Glycerine may
3. The lead shots are a confined liquid
falling in whereas the formula we applied is meant for a sphere
falling in a of infinite extent.
liquid

.
Ans.
Why do we
Because, glycerine
of
viscosity.
use glycerine in this experiment?
has high value
VTVA VOCE

of coefficient
marked
not be
distance will

measured. Moreover
be so small that
not
achieve terminal velocity over the small distance
the shot
it

may
might

Q.2. So what? in the pipe.

Ans. The Q.5. Why should the lead shots be of small radii?
terminal velocity is reached very soon and
Decause of low value of terminal
Ans. «r, Large size lead shots will fall very and
velocity the lead v, fast
shot falls hence time of fall may not be measured
slowly. very accurately.
3. Can we use water of Q.6. What is the effect of temperature on
instead viscosity of
Ans. No. glycerine
liquids?
Q4. Why not?
Ans. n decreases with increase in
temperature.
ne coefficient of viscosity of glycerine is 8 times Q.7. Why?
than that Ans. the torces of cohesion between
Ore of water hence, terminal velocity Because
liquid molecules decrease with increase in
ead shot in water is 8 times the terminal
The time of for the temperature.
velocity
in glycerine. fall

Section B: Experiments 121

 Q.8. Why should the an air bubble in the middlo
ball be
Ans. Because centrally dropped? Q.13.If we blow bf
the
velocity of fall of the ball will be will it move upward or downward
affected pipe
by the proximity
of the wall. The effect may be Ans. Upward
uniform from all sides if the
ball is centrally
dropped. Q.14.Why
Ans. Because, p being less than o, upthrust wil
Q.9. Is there any formula be
for the correction more than the weight of the air bubble.
of proximity of walls? of effect
air bubble attain terminal
Ans. Yes it Q.15. Does the veloeit.
as
is
Ladenberg's correction. it moves up?
Q.10.State
Ladenberg's correction formula. Ans. No.
Ans. It states:

(1 Why not?
Q.16.
Ans. As it moves upradius increases
its
and hen
ence,
also increases on it.
where v upthrust
is the velocity in a vessel of infinite
radius Q.17. Why does the radius of the bubble
eR is the velocity in a vessel of radius R. increase

and r= radius of
the ball falling in the vessel.
it moves up?

Q.11.Why do we use Ans. Because as the bubble moves up the

usually lead shots in this pressure
of liquid outside it decreases. To
experiment? maintain

Ans. Because, almost spherical balls of different sizes equilibrium with the excess of pressure inside

of pure lead are easily due to surface tension (which is a constant)

available. the
bubble expands.
Q.12. Would you not like to use iron balls of
Q.18. Give an exampleof the concept of terminal velocity
bearings?
Ans. Iron balls of
used by man.
bearings have two advantages:
You can get machine made spherical balls Ans. A parachutist calculates the time after which hel
all
of one size and iron she should open his/her parachute
making use
having lower
comparatively
of this concept.
density will
same size.
fall more slowly than lead shots of
However, iron balls of bearings are
|
Q.19. Does the concept of terminal velocity help us in

normally chrome plated and hence, the viscous nature?

drag that they experience will not be the same Ans. Yes. Rain drops fall on earth with low velocity

as for a ball of iron having rough surface. equal to terminal velocity though they are falling

from a cloud at several kilometer height.

122 7a9ether uith Physics Lab Manual-11