BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 1 - Problem 1A.

3 Page 1 of 4

Problem 1A.3
Computation of the viscosities of gases at low density. Predict the viscosities of molecular
oxygen, nitrogen, and methane at 20°C and atmospheric pressure, and express the results in
mPa · s. Compare the results with experimental data given in this chapter.

Answers: 0.0202, 0.0172, 0.0107 mPa · s

Solution

The given temperature in Kelvin is T = 20 + 273.15 = 293.15 K, and the given pressure is
p = 1 atm. Viscosity is calculated from µ = µc µr , where µc is the critical viscosity and µr is the
reduced viscosity.

Viscosity of Molecular Oxygen

From Table E.1 on page 864 we obtain the following facts about O2 .
g
Tc = 154.4 K pc = 49.7 atm µc = 250. × 10−6
cm · s
In order to determine µr , we have to know Tr and µr , the reduced temperature and reduced
pressure, respectively.

T 293.15 K
Tr = = ≈ 1.90
Tc 154.4 K
p 1
atm

pr =
pc
=
49.7   ≈ 0.02
atm
Use the graph in Fig. 1.3-1 on page 22 to determine µr . Because of how small pr is, we use the
line representing the low-density limit.

Figure 1: Use Fig. 1.3-1 in the text to determine µr .

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 1 - Problem 1A.3 Page 2 of 4

We see that µr ≈ 0.8. Now we can find the viscosity.

 g  g
µ = µc µr ≈ 250. × 10−6 0.8 = 2 × 10−4
cm · s cm · s
From Table F.3-4 on page 870, we get the conversion factor to Pa · s: 1 g/cm · s = 10−1 Pa · s.

g  10−1 XPaX·Xs 1000 mPa · s

µ ≈ 2 × 10−4 × g
×
cm · s 1XPaX·Xs

 1 cm·s

Therefore, the viscosity of O2 is
µ ≈ 0.02 mPa · s.
The experimental value for the viscosity of O2 is given in Table 1.1-3 on page 14: 0.0204 mPa · s.
The percent difference between the two is
0.02 − 0.0204
Percent Difference = × 100% ≈ −2%.
0.0204
Thus, the estimate here is below the experimental value by about 2%.

Viscosity of Molecular Nitrogen

From Table E.1 on page 864 we obtain the following facts about N2 .
g
Tc = 126.2 K pc = 33.5 atm µc = 180. × 10−6
cm · s
In order to determine µr , we have to know Tr and µr , the reduced temperature and reduced
pressure, respectively.

T 293.15 K
Tr = = ≈ 2.32
Tc 126.2 K
p 1
atm

pr =
pc
=
33.5   ≈ 0.03
atm
Use the graph in Fig. 1.3-1 on page 22 to determine µr . Because of how small pr is, we use the
line representing the low-density limit.

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 1 - Problem 1A.3 Page 3 of 4

Figure 2: Use Fig. 1.3-1 in the text to determine µr .

We see that µr ≈ 0.95. Now we can find the viscosity.

 g  g
µ = µc µr ≈ 180. × 10−6 0.95 ≈ 1.7 × 10−4
cm · s cm · s
From Table F.3-4 on page 870, we get the conversion factor to Pa · s: 1 g/cm · s = 10−1 Pa · s.
g  10−1 X
PaX·Xs 1000 mPa · s
µ ≈ 1.7 × 10−4  × g
×
cm · s
 1 cm·s 1XPaX·Xs

Therefore, the viscosity of N2 is
µ ≈ 0.017 mPa · s.
The experimental value for the viscosity of N2 is given in Table 1.1-3 on page 14: 0.0175 mPa · s.
The percent difference between the two is
0.017 − 0.0175
Percent Difference = × 100% ≈ −3%.
0.0175
Thus, the estimate here is below the experimental value by about 3%.

Viscosity of Methane

From Table E.1 on page 864 we obtain the following facts about CH4 .
g
Tc = 191.1 K pc = 45.8 atm µc = 159. × 10−6
cm · s
In order to determine µr , we have to know Tr and µr , the reduced temperature and reduced
pressure, respectively.
T 293.15 K
Tr = = ≈ 1.53
Tc 191.1 K
p 1
atm

pr =
pc
=
45.8   ≈ 0.02
atm
Use the graph in Fig. 1.3-1 on page 22 to determine µr . Because of how small pr is, we use the
line representing the low-density limit.

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 1 - Problem 1A.3 Page 4 of 4

Figure 3: Use Fig. 1.3-1 in the text to determine µr .

We see that µr ≈ 0.70. Now we can find the viscosity.

 g  g
µ = µc µr ≈ 159. × 10−6 0.70 ≈ 1.1 × 10−4
cm · s cm · s
From Table F.3-4 on page 870, we get the conversion factor to Pa · s: 1 g/cm · s = 10−1 Pa · s.

g  10−1 X
PaX·Xs 1000 mPa · s
µ ≈ 1.1 × 10−4  × g
×
cm · s
 1 cm·s 1XPaX·Xs

Therefore, the viscosity of CH4 is
µ ≈ 0.011 mPa · s.
The experimental value for the viscosity of CH4 is given in Table 1.1-3 on page 14: 0.0109 mPa · s.
The percent difference between the two is
0.011 − 0.0109
Percent Difference = × 100% ≈ 0.9%.
0.0109
Thus, the estimate here is above the experimental value by about 0.9%.

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