Measuring Viscosity

Ynna Nichole Ilogon and Joseph Cyron Solidum

Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City, Philippines

Abstract. This experiment investigated the relationship between temperature, density, and viscosity in two fluids:
distilled water and fruit juice. Dynamic viscosity measurements were conducted to assess the fluids' resistance to
flow. Both distilled water and fruit juice exhibited low viscosity, as evidenced by the sphere's rapid descent. The
relationship between density and viscosity indicated that lower-density fluids had lower viscosities, suggesting
smoother flow with reduced internal friction. The results obtained from the experiment generated an acceptable
margin of error.

Introduction
When objects slide against each other, a friction force
arises between their surfaces, opposing the motion. This
principle also applies to fluids moving relative to solids
or other fluids. We can easily move through air, but
moving through water is more challenging, and moving
through oil is even more difficult. For example, if we
drop a glass ball into a tube filled with oil, we can
observe that it falls more slowly compared to when it is
dropped in air or water. This behavior indicates the
presence of a property known as viscosity, which
represents a fluid's internal resistance to flow. When a
fluid flows, it exerts a force called drag force on objects
in the direction of flow, and the magnitude of this force
depends, at least in part, on the fluid's viscosity. [1]
Newtonian fluids exhibit a linear relationship
between shear stress and strain rate, with viscosity as the
proportionality constant. On the other hand,
non-Newtonian fluids deviate from this simple
relationship and cannot be characterized by a single
constant viscosity. Some non-Newtonian fluids thicken
when exposed to shear stress, like corn flour
suspensions, while others become more fluid, such as
non-drip paint. [2]
In industrial settings, understanding the viscous
properties of liquids is crucial. It is relevant for the
transportation of fluids and plays a significant role in the
development and performance of paints, lubricants, and
food products.[2]
This laboratory experiment is guided by the
following objectives:
1. To learn to measure the viscosity of different
liquids by demonstrating a simple method of
measurement.
2. To explain the relationship between a liquid’s
density and viscosity.
3. To explain how viscosity varies relative to
temperature.
Relationship between viscosity and temperature
Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to
deformation. It arises from the internal friction between
different layers of the fluid as they move relative to each
other. Viscosity is influenced by the cohesive forces
between molecules in liquids and the collisions between
molecules in gases. Temperature has a significant effect
on viscosity. [3]
In liquids, viscosity decreases with increasing
temperature, while in gases, viscosity increases with
temperature. This is because higher temperatures provide
liquid molecules with more energy to counteract the
cohesive forces between them. As a result, the molecules
can move more freely within the liquid. [1]
Relationship between viscosity and density
In fluids, viscosity and density are two distinct properties
that are related but not directly proportional to each
other. As discussed, viscosity refers to a fluid's resistance
to flow, while density refers to the mass per unit volume
of a substance. The relationship between viscosity and
density is commonly described by the concept of
kinematic viscosity. [4]
Kinematic viscosity (ν) is defined as the ratio of
dynamic viscosity (η) to density (ρ) of a fluid. This
relationship implies that viscosity is inversely
proportional to density. In other words, as density
increases, the kinematic viscosity decreases, and vice
versa. However, it's important to note that this
relationship is not a direct proportionality and depends
on various factors such as temperature and pressure. [4]
Dynamic vs. kinematic viscosity [5]
Dynamic viscosity can be defined as the tangential force
per unit area required to move one plane parallel to
another, with a unit velocity and a unit distance apart.
When one plane moves in relation to another within a
fluid, it creates a velocity gradient between the two
layers (as shown in Figure 1). Viscosity can be likened to
a drag coefficient that is directly proportional to this
velocity gradient.
Materials and Methods
The materials needed to conduct this experiment include
graduated cylinders, spheres, hotplate, weighing balance,
thermometer, ruler, stopwatch, and the sample liquids:
distilled water and fruit juice. The setup for the
experiment is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1. In fluid dynamics, when a plane moves through a

liquid relative to a stationary plane, a force F is needed to
overcome the internal resistance of the fluid. The moving plane
has an area A.

The force necessary to move a plane of area A past

another in a fluid is given by Equation 1 where Vs is the
velocity of the liquid, Y is the separation between planes,
and µ is the dynamic viscosity.

𝑉𝑠
𝐹 = µ𝐴 𝑌
(1) Figure 2. Distilled water at 50°C (left), calamansi juice
(middle), and sphere at a measured height (right).
𝑉𝑠/Y also represents the velocity gradient
The weight of the materials used in this experiment
(sometimes referred to as shear rate). Force over area is identified in Table 1.
(F/A) is equal to τ, the shear stress, so the equation
simplifies to Equation 2. Table 1. Weight of materials.
𝑉𝑠
τ= µ 𝑌
(2) Material Weight, g

For situations where v does not vary linearly with graduated cylinder (DH2O) 95.7
the separation between plates, the differential formula
based on Newton’s equations is given in Equation 3. graduated cylinder (fruit juice) 110.3

δ𝑉𝑠 sphere 2.0156

τ= µ δ𝑌
(3)

Kinematic viscosity requires knowledge of the
density and is given by Equation 4, where ν is the
kinematic viscosity.
η volume, π is the constant approximately equal to 3.14,
ν= ρ
(4)
Two fluids can have the same dynamic viscosity,
which measures their resistance to flow. However, it is
not possible for two different fluids to have the same
kinematic viscosity because kinematic viscosity takes
into account the density of the fluids.
The mass of the sphere was determined by placing it
on a balance and recording the measured value in grams
(g), as displayed in Table 1. The volume of the sphere
was calculated using Equation 5, where V represents the
and r is the radius of the sphere.
4 3
𝑉= 3
π𝑟 (5)
Another method to determine volume involved
measuring the displacement of water in a graduated
cylinder. The initial water level was recorded, followed
by placing the sphere in the water and noting the final
water level. The difference between the initial and final
water levels indicated the volume of the sphere in
milliliters (mL). Lastly, the density was calculated using
Equation 6, where d represents density, m is the mass, Fd = 6πη𝑟𝑣 (7)
and v is the volume.
When the ball is moving through the fluid the force
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠,𝑔
ρ= 3 (6) of gravity (FG=mg) is acting down on it while the forces
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒, 𝑐𝑚 of buoyancy (FB) and drag (FD) are acting on it in the
opposite direction. The figure below shows this:
Density of the liquid sample (fruit juice &
distilled water)

The mass of the liquid was determined by initially

weighing the empty graduated cylinder, then pouring the
liquid into the cylinder and re-weighing it. By
subtracting the mass of the empty cylinder (see Table 1)
from the mass of the cylinder with the liquid, the mass of
the liquid in grams (g) was obtained.
The volume of the liquid sample was recorded as 80
mL by measuring the amount poured into the graduated
cylinder. The weight of the fluids in different
temperatures and the sphere is shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Weight of fluids per temperature.

Temperature, °C DH2O Fruit juice

Figure 3. Free-body diagram of a sphere in a quiescent
30 78.6 78.9 fluid
50 78.5 78.7 By summing forces in the vertical direction we can write
the following equation:
70 78.3 78.6
FB + FD = mg (8)
90 78 78.4
Rearranged:
The density of the liquid was then calculated using
Equation 6. The density can be expressed in terms of FD = mg - FB (9)
g/mL since 1 cm3 = 1 mL.
To make the weight more relatable to the density we can
Viscosity of each fluid use the relation below:

The graduated cylinder was filled to 80 mL. The height ρ=

𝑚
→ m = ρVs (10)
of the liquid sample in the graduated cylinder was 𝑉𝑠

measured in centimeters (cm). Next, the sphere was

dropped into the liquid, and the stopwatch was started Where ρ is the density of the sphere and Vs is the
when the bottom of the sphere reached the mark at the volume of the ball or the amount of water that it
top of the cylinder. The stopwatch was then stopped displaces.
when the sphere reached the bottom of the cylinder, and Plugging Equations 7 and 10 into Equation 9 while
the recorded time was noted. This step was repeated at noting that FB=mg, and rearranging, we get the
least three times, and the average time was calculated. expressions:
The same procedure was conducted for each fluid at
different temperatures: 30, 50, 70, and 90 degrees 6πη𝑟𝑣 = ρ𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑉𝑔 − ρ𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑𝑉𝑠𝑔 (11)
Celsius. The viscosity was then calculated for each
measurement, and the average viscosity was obtained.
6πη𝑟𝑣 = (ρ𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 − ρ𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑)𝑉𝑠𝑔 (12)
Working equations [6][7]
(ρ𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒−ρ𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑)𝑉𝑠𝑔
η= (13)
Using George Gabriel Stokes’ law, along with other 6π𝑟𝑣

well-known principles of physics, we can write an

expression that describes the rate at which the sphere The buoyancy force is simply the weight of displaced
falls through a quiescent, viscous fluid. Stokes' Law is fluid. Then, substituting Equation 5 to Equation 13, we
written as, get
 4 3
(ρ𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒−ρ𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑)( 3 π𝑟 )𝑔 1 0.55 0.38 0.28 0.21
η= 6π𝑟𝑉𝑠
(14)
2 DH2O 0.48 0.35 0.32 0.21
Simplifying, we can then find an expression for the
3 0.56 0.35 0.28 0.21
viscosity of the fluid.

2 1 0.53 0.41 0.35 0.24

2𝑟 (ρ𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒−ρ𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑)𝑔
η= 9𝑉𝑠
(15) 2
Fruit
0.58 0.37 0.33 0.22
juice
3 0.56 0.39 0.33 0.26
Where η is the viscosity of the fluid, r is the radius of the
sphere, 𝑉𝑠 is the velocity of the sphere in that particular
The height of the fluids at 80 mL is approximately
fluid, ρ are the densities, and g is the acceleration due to 15.5 cm. We can use the data from Table 4 to calculate
gravity.
the velocity of the sphere for each fluid at different
temperatures. This calculation can be achieved by
Results and Discussion applying Equation 16.

Initially, the density of both the sphere and the fluids was 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠, 𝑐𝑚
𝑉𝑠 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝, 𝑠
(16)
calculated. To determine the density of the sphere, the
constant water displacement of 2 mL was considered,
By utilizing all of the available data, the viscosity of
and Equation 6 was applied. In the case of the fluids, the
the fluids can be calculated using Equation 15. As
weights of the fluids listed in Table 2 were used, with a
depicted in Table 5, it is observed that the viscosity of
fixed volume of 80 mL, and Equation 6 was employed to
the fluids decreases as the temperature increases.
calculate their densities. The densities obtained from
these calculations are presented in Table 3 for reference Table 5. Calculated viscosity (g/cm.s) per temperature.
in this experiment.
Table 3. Calculated density (g/cm3) per temperature. Trial Fluid Temperature, °C
No. type
30 50 70 90
Temperature, DH2O Fruit juice Sphere
°C 1 0.0077 0.0057 0.0045 0.0039
30 0.983 0.986
2 DH2O 0.0067 0.0053 0.0052 0.0039
50 0.981 0.984
3 0.0078 0.0053 0.0045 0.0039
1.0078
70 0.979 0.983
Average 0.0074 0.0054 0.0047 0.0039
90 0.975 0.980
1 0.0065 0.0055 0.0049 0.0038
Fruit
The experiment showed that as the temperature 2 0.0071 0.0050 0.0046 0.0034
juice
increased, the densities of both fluids decreased,
indicating an inverse relationship between density and 3 0.0069 0.0052 0.0046 0.0041
temperature. This can be explained by the fact that
heating causes fluid particles to expand, leading to an Average 0.0068 0.0052 0.0047 0.0038
increase in volume and a decrease in density.
The recorded times for the sphere to reach the bottom The dynamic viscosity measurement was used to
of the cylinder are illustrated in Table 4. Analyzing the assess the fluids' resistance to flow in addition to their
data in the table, it is evident that the time taken for the density. In the experiment, both distilled water and fruit
sphere to reach the bottom, or come to a halt, decreases juice displayed low viscosity, as evidenced by the sphere
as the temperature of the fluid increases. reaching the cylinder's bottom quickly. Low viscosity
Table 4. Measured time (s) to reach the bottom of the cylinder.
indicates reduced internal friction, enabling easier and
faster flow. The sphere's smooth descent suggests that the
fluids had less resistance to flow, likely due to weaker
Trial Fluid Temperature, °C intermolecular forces. The relationship between density
No. type and viscosity indicates that lower viscosity in fluids with
30 50 70 90
lower densities is associated with decreased internal
friction, allowing the fluid to flow more freely and easily.
 each temperature is calculated using Equation 17 and
shown in Table 7.
|𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 − 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙|
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
× 100 (17)

Table 7. Percent error per temperature for DH2O.

Density, ρ

Percent
Temperat Theoretical Experimental
error,
ure, °C value value
%

Figure 4. Fluid viscosity vs. temperature. 30 0.9956 0.983 1.266

As shown in Figure 4, viscosity is highly dependent 50 0.988 0.981 0.709

on temperature, and changes in temperature can
significantly impact the viscosity of a fluid. The 70 0.9778 0.979 0.123
viscosity of the fluids decreases as temperature increases.
Both fluids illustrate this behavior. 90 0.9653 0.975 1.005
The theoretical absolute viscosity of the sample fluids
Viscosity, η
as documented in existing literature and sources is
presented in Table 6. However, it should be noted that
30 0.007972 0.0074 7.175
there is a limited amount of data available specifically for
fruit juice, as the availability of literature on the
50 0.005465 0.0054 1.189
rheological properties of fruit juices can vary depending
on the particular type of fruit juice being studied. 70 0.00405 0.0047 16.049
Table 6. Experimental and theoretical values for each fluid.
90 0.003149 0.0039 23.849
Density, ρ
Possible errors could arise from the procedure of
Experimental Theoretical dropping the sphere into the fluid. Dropping the sphere
Temper from a height above the liquid level may introduce
ature, inaccuracies. Instead, releasing the sphere just above the
Fruit Fruit
°C DH2O DH2O surface of the liquid to ensure it enters the fluid without
juice juice
any initial velocity can help minimize errors.
30 0.983 0.986 0.9956 Another source of potential error is the timing of
when the sphere reaches the bottom or comes to a halt.
50 0.981 0.984 0.988 The low viscosity of the sample fluids makes it difficult
Limited
to precisely determine the exact moment the sphere
data.
70 0.979 0.983 0.9778 reaches the bottom. Personal errors in timing could
occur, resulting in discrepancies between the measured
90 0.975 0.980 0.9653 time and the actual time elapsed.

Viscosity, η Conclusions
30 0.0074 0.0068 0.007972 The experimental results highlight the interrelationships
among density, viscosity, and temperature in the tested
50 0.0054 0.0052 0.005465 fluids. The following could be concurred from the
Limited
experiment of the two sample fluids:
data.
70 0.0047 0.0047 0.00405
1. The inverse relationship between density and
90 0.0039 0.0038 0.003149 temperature suggests that as temperature
increases, the densities of the fluids decrease
due to thermal expansion.
The viscosity measurements of distilled water in the
2. The measurement of dynamic viscosity allows
experiment closely align with the theoretical values,
us to assess the fluids' resistance to flow over
demonstrating a high level of agreement between the
time, and both distilled water and fruit juice
experimental and theoretical data. The percent error for
 demonstrate low viscosity values, indicating
easy flow.
3. The observed ease of the sphere's descent in the
fluids further supports the notion of low
viscosity.
4. The link between viscosity and density
indicates that fluids with lower densities exhibit
lower viscosities, indicating reduced internal
friction and smoother flow.
5. The influence of temperature on viscosity is
evident, with higher temperatures leading to
decreased viscosity.
The minimal percent error indicates a good level of
agreement between the experimental and theoretical
values for viscosity.

References
[1] Çengel, Y. A. (2006). FLUID MECHANICS:
FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS (1st ed.).
McGraw-Hill.

[2] Francis, A.W. & Little, A. D. (1933) Journal of

Applied Physics,, vol.4, page.403-40. Retrieved
from viscosity_2016.pdf (niser.ac.in)

[3] Relationship between viscosity and temperature.

(n.d.). Physics Stack Exchange.
https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/71641
5/relationship-between-viscosity-and-temperature

[4] Relation between viscosity and density. (2019,

September 2). BYJUS.
https://byjus.com/physics/relation-between-viscosit
y-and-density/

[5] 2.6: Viscosity. (2022, August 28). Chemistry

LibreTexts.
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Che
mistry/Physical_Methods_in_Chemistry_and_Nano_Sci
ence_(Barron)/02%3A_Physical_and_Thermal_Analysis
/2.06%3A_Viscosity

[6] Hudson, J. R. (n.d.). Fluid Mechanics: Stokes’

Law and Viscosity. Retrieved from
mechanics_and_fluids_1.pdf (iicseonline.org)

[7] Viscosity and stoke’s equation. (n.d.). UCSC

Physics Demonstration Room | Demonstration
Resources for UCSC.
https://ucscphysicsdemo.sites.ucsc.edu/physics-5b6
b-demos/viscosity-and-stokes-equation/