Stokes' Law and Terminal Velocity

By Jitender Singh on Nov 29, 2019

The viscous drag force on a sphere of radius r moving with a velocity v in a fluid of viscosity η is given by Stokes' law

F = 6πηrv.

Stoke's law is valid for laminar flow. The drag on a sphere is proportional to the flow velocity, fluid's viscosity, and sphere's radius. This
can be derived using dimensional analysis or by rigorous mathematics.

FB = 43 πr3 σg FD = 6πη rv

r
σ •
ρ
v g

FG = 43 πr3 ρg

Drag force F , buoyant force F and

D B

gravitational force F acting on a sphere of

G

radius r and density ρ moving with velocity v

in a fluid of density σ and viscosity η.

Consider a sphere of radius r and density ρ moving with a velocity v ina fluid of density σ and viscosity η. The forces acting on the
sphere are viscous drag force F = 6πηrv, gravitational force F = πr ρg and buoyant force F = πr σg. The sphere accelerates
D G
4

3
3
B
4

3
3

until the drag force adjusts itself to make net force on the sphere zero. Henceforth, the sphere moves with a constant velocity called
terminal velocity. Solve F D + FB = FG to get terminal velocity formula
2
2r (ρ − σ)g
vT = .
9η

The sphere moves downwards if it is denser than fluid otherwise it moves upwards. The terminal velocity is directly proportional to r 2

and inversely proportional to the viscosity. If a sphere is released from the rest then its velocity varies with time as shown in the figure.

vT
velocity (v)

O Time
Stokes' law and terminal velocity find applications in viscometer (viscosity meter), Millikan's oil drop experiment, falling raindrop,
sedimentation of particles etc.

Solved Problems on Stoke's Law and Terminal Velocity

Problem from IIT JEE 2016
Consider two solid spheres P and Q each of density 8 g/cm3 and diameters 1 cm and 0.5 cm, respectively. Sphere P is dropped into a
liquid of density 0.8 g/cm3 and viscosity η = 3 poiseulles. Sphere Q is dropped into a liquid of density 1.6 g/cm3 and viscosity η = 2
poiseulles. The ratio of the terminal velocities of P and Q is_________

Solution: The terminal velocity of a sphere of radius r and density ρ, immersed in a liquid of density σ and viscosity η, is given by
2
2 (ρ − σ)r g
v = .
9 η

Substitute the values of given parameters to get

2
vP (ρP − σP ) r ηQ
P
= = 3.
2
vQ (ρQ − σQ ) r ηP
Q
Problem from IIT JEE 2015
Two spheres P and Q of equal radii have densities ρ and ρ , respectively. The spheres are connected by a massless string and placed in
1 2

liquids L and L of densities σ and σ and viscosities η and η , respectively. They float in equilibrium with the sphere P in L and
1 2 1 2 1 2 1

sphere Q in L and the string being taut (see figure). If sphere P alone in L has terminal velocity v
2 → and Q alone in L has terminal
2 P 1

velocity v
→ , then,Q

L1

L2

→
A.
|v P | η1
=
→
|v Q | η2

→
|v P|

B.
η2
=
→
|v Q | η1

→
C. v P
→ ⋅ vQ > 0

→ ⋅ v→
D. v P Q < 0

Solution: Let V =
4

3
πr
3
be the volume of the spheres P and Q of equal radii r. The forces acting on the sphere P are its weight ρ 1V g ,
tension from the string T , and the buoyancy force σ V g (see figure). Similarly, forces on the sphere Q are ρ
1 2V ,
g T , and σ 1V g . In
equilibrium, the net force on the spheres P and Q are separately zero i.e.,

T + ρ1 V g = σ1 V g,

T + σ2 V g = ρ2 V g.

L1 σ1 V g

P
T ρ1 V g

T σ2 V g
Q

L2 ρ2 V g

The tension T > 0 because the string is taut. Thus, first equation gives ρ 1 < σ1 and second equation gives ρ 2 > σ2 . Eliminate T from
first and second equation to get σ − ρ = ρ − σ . 1 1 2 2

Now, consider the situation when the sphere P moves in liquid L and the sphere Q moves in liquid L . These spheres will attain the
2 1

→ and v→ after some time. The direction of the velocity (upwards or downwards) will depend on the density of the
terminal velocities v P Q

sphere in comparison to the density of the liquid. Let us consider the case when ρ > σ . In this case, the velocity of the sphere P is 1 2

downwards. From above equation, if ρ > σ then ρ < σ . If the density of a sphere is less than the density of the liquid in which it is
1 2 2 1

immersed, it will move up. Thus, the velocity of the sphere Q is upwards i.e., the directions of v
→ and v→ are opposite (see figure). P Q

Hence, v
→ P →
⋅ vQ < 0 .

L1 σ1 V g
vQ
Q

6πη1 rvQ ρ2 V g
6πη2 rvP σ2 V g

P
vP
L2 ρ1 V g

The forces on the sphere P are its weight ρ 1V g , buoyancy force σ 2V g , and viscous drag 6πη 2 rvP (see figure). Similarly, the forces on
the sphere Q are ρ 2V ,
g σ1 V g and 6πη 1 rvQ . Net forces on the spheres are zero when they move with terminal velocities i.e.,

6πη2 rvP + σ2 V g = ρ1 V g,

6πη1 rvQ + ρ2 V g = σ1 V g.

Simplify above equations to get,

 2
2r (ρ1 − σ2 )g
vP = ,
9η2

2
2r (σ1 − ρ2 )g
vQ = .
9η1

Divide to get,

→
|v P | η1 ρ 1 − σ2 η1
= = .
→
|v Q | η2 σ1 − ρ 2 η2

The readers are encouraged to show the results for the case ρ 1 < σ2 .

Problem from IIT JEE 2004

A small sphere falls from rest in a viscous liquid. Due to friction, heat is produced. Find the relation between the rate of production of
heat and the radius of the sphere at terminal velocity.

Solution: The forces acting on the sphere are its weight downwards, buoyancy force upwards, and viscous force
4 3 4 3
πr ρg πr σg
3 3

6πηrv upwards. The sphere attains the terminal velocity v when the resultant force on it is zero i.e.,
t

4 3 4 3
πr ρg = πr σg + 6πηrvt .
3 3

Solve above equation to get the terminal velocity,

2
2r (ρ − σ)g
vt = .
9η

The rate of heat generation is equal to the rate of work done by the viscous force which, in turn, is equal to its power. Thus,
2 2 5
dQ 8π(ρ − σ) g r
= (6πηrvt )vt = .
dt 27η

Questions on Stoke's Law and Terminal Velocity

Question 1: Two identical spherical drops of water are falling through air with a steady velocity of 20 cm/s. If the drops combine to form
a single drop, what would be the terminal velocity of the single drop?

A. 20 cm/s

B. 32 cm/s

C. 10 cm/s

D. 40 cm/s

Select and click to check answer

Question 2: The terminal velocity of a copper ball of radius 2 mm falling through a tank of oil is 6.5 cm/s. Compute the viscosity of the
oil if density of oil is 1.5 × 10 kg/m3 and density of copper is 8.9 × 10 kg/m3.
3 3

A. 1.5 N-s/m2

B. 0.5 N-s/m2

C. 1 N-s/m2

D. 2 N-s/m2

Select and click to check answer

Related Topics
Viscosity
Streamline Flow
Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment

References and External Links

1. IIT JEE Physics by Jitender Singh and Shraddhesh Chaturvedi
2. Concepts of Physics Part 1 by HC Verma (Link to Amazon)
3. Stokes' law and terminal velocity (schoolphysics.com)
4. Dropping the Ball Slowly (virginia.edu)
5. Stoke's Law and Terminal Velocity (gradestack.com)