Yarmouk University

Civil Engineering Department

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Laboratory
CE 354

Name : Ayah Hasan Saeed AL-jdayah

ID #: 2020990028

Section #: 2

Experiment : Measurement of Density, Specific gravity and viscosity of

liquids

Date of submission: 24/10/2023

Introduction :
This experiment was performed to see how fluids are affected by their
density and viscosity. Density is the measure of mass per unit volume and is
denoted by the symbol ,ρ .This measurement allows Newton's Second Law
to be applied to fluids on a "per unit volume " basis. The mass if the object is
generally measured by a balance or scale , as where volume can be
measured by water displacement , or by simply by calculating it using the
objects parameters. Viscosity on the other hand is the measure of a fluids
resistance to deformation. The more viscous a fluid is, the more resistance
or thickness it will display . Viscosity is found through an equation which
utilizes the object's radius , densities of both the fluid and object
suspended , and gravitational force.

Objective :
To determine the density, specific gravity , and viscosity of some liquids
(water, Engine oil , Glycerol , and castor oil ) at atmosphere pressure and
temperature .

Materials and apparatus:

1) Universal hydrometer
2) 4 hydrometer jars
3) Liquids : Water , Engine oil , castor oil, glycerol
4) 4 different diameter spherical steel balls
5) Stop watch
Procedure:
Density and specific gravity
1) Put hydrometer in the first jar
2) Take a hydrometer reading
3) Clean the Hydrometer
4) Place the hydrometer back in the second jar and take a reading
5) Repeat steps 3&4 for different liquids.

Viscosity

1) Take a specific height in the jar to determine the time required for the
ball to reach the bottom.
2) Place one ball in the first jar with its own weight.
3) Turn on the stop watch, drop the ball from the specified height, and set
the time in which the ball will reach the bottom.
4) Repeat steps 2&3 for the remaining balls.
Data & Results : ρw = 1000Kg/m3

Barometric Pressure:760 mmHg ρl= Sl X ρw

Temperature: 29C Density of steel ρs = 7.8 g/cm3
Measures Diameter of balls: 3.95 mm, 3.12 mm

Density & Specific Gravity:

Scale reading =
Liquid Liquid density , ρl
specific gravity, Sl
Water 0.99 990
Engine Oil 0.88 880
Glycerol 1.27 1270
corn Oil 0.9 900

Viscosity :

Water
Time , T Falling
Travel
Ball velocity ʋ=µ/ ρl
Distance , µ(pa.sec)
Diameter Min sec U= L/T 2
(m /sec)
L (m)
(m/sec)
3.12 0.01480.89 0.27 0.3034 0.12 1.21X10-4
3.95 0.004 0.24 0.27 1.125 0.0515 0.52X10-4

Average 0.08575 1.73X10-4

Viscosity
 Engine Oil
Time , T Falling
Travel
Ball velocity ʋ=µ/ ρl
Distance , µ(pa.sec)
Diameter Min sec U= L/T 2
(m /sec)
L (m)
(m/sec)
3.12 0.056 3.35 0.27 0.08 0.4589 5.21 X10-4
3.95 0.02671.6 0.27 0.16875 0.3487 3.96X10-4
Average
0.404 4.585X10-4
Viscosity

Glycerol
Time , T Falling
Travel
Ball velocity ʋ=µ/ ρl
Distance , µ(pa.sec)
Diameter Min sec U= L/T 2
(m /sec)
L (m)
(m/sec)
3.12 0.733 4.4 0.27 0.0613 0.565 4.45X10-4
3.95 0.03622.17 0.27 0.124 0.447 3.52X10-4
Average
0.506 3.985X10-4
Viscosity

Corn Oil
Time , T Falling
Travel
Ball velocity ʋ=µ/ ρl
Distance , µ(pa.sec)
Diameter min sec U= L/T 2
(m /sec)
L (m)
(m/sec)
3.12 0.01831.1 0.27 0.245 0.149 1.655X10-4
3.95 0.013 0.78 0.27 0.346 0.169 1.877X10-4
Average
0.159 1.766X10-4
Viscosity
Discussion :
1.a. Compare the calculated density and viscosity for each fluid with standard values.

Density

Liquid Calculated Value Standard Value

Water 990 1000
Glycerol 1270 1260
Engine oil 880 950
Corn oil 900 925

Viscosity

Liquid Calculated Value Standard Value

Water 0.08575 0.001
Glycerol 0.506 1.46
Engine oil 0.404 0.82
Corn oil 0.159 0.11
b. Calculate percent error and discuss sources of error.
Density:
1) Water error%=|1000-990| x 100=1%
1000
2) Glycerol error%=|1260-1270| X 100 = 0.79%
1260
3) Engine oil error%=|950-880| X 100 =7.37%
950
4) Corn Oil error%=|925-900| X 100 =2.7%
925
 Sources of error:
1) May be we don't clean the hydrometer perfectly.
2) Error in measuring and taking the reading of hydrometer.
3) The weather of the lab class is wet at that time.

Viscosity:
1) Glycerol error%=|1.46-.506| X100 =65.3%
1.46
2) Engine Oil error%=|.82-.404| X 100=50.73%
.82
3) Corn Oil error%=|.11-.159| X100=44.54%
.11

 Sources of error:
1) Errors in recording the time and stop watch in specific time.
2) Errors in reducing numbers in calculations.
3) The color of engine oil prevent us from taking the exactly reading easily.
4) May be the balls have not fall freely and have force from us.

2. Arrange the density and viscosity values in ascending order.

ρ Eng.oil < ρ Corn oil < ρ water < ρ Gly

880 < 900 < 990 < 1270

µwater<µcorn oil <µEngine oil<µGlycerol

0.08575 <0.159<0.404<0.506
3. Discuss the effect of temperature and pressure in calculated values.
 When temperature increases the volume increases and the density decreases
 When pressure increases the volume decreases and the density increases
 When temperature increases the viscosity of liquids decreases

Conclusion:
Density:
 Depending on (ρ), When we put more than liquid in the same jar we can be expect
which fluid can float on water or any liquid
 In fluid denser than water the hydrometer give reading more than its reading in water
(hydrometer rise up)
 In fluid lighter than water the reading less than hydrometer reading in water (move
downward)
 The value of density depending on temperature and pressure:

T V ρ

P V ρ
Viscosity:
 Viscosity of fluid its resistance to gradual deformation by shear stress or shear strain
 Dynamic (shear) viscosity: resistance to shearing flow where adjacent layers
move parallel to each other with different speeds
 Kinematic viscosity: it’s the ratio of the dynamic viscosity (µ) to the density of
fluid (ρ)
 In high viscosity liquid ball need more time to reach the bottom of the jar (like glycerol)
 In low viscosity liquid ball need less time to reach the bottom (like water)
 When the diameter of ball increase the ball reach the bottom faster than ball with small
radius
Sample of calculations :

 ρ Liquid = S.G X ρ Water

 ρ = 1.27 X 1000 = 1270 Kg / m3

Glycerol

 µLiquid= 2 r2 g (ρ s-ρ l )
9 u
 µGlycerol= 2 (31.12 x10-3)2 9.81 ( 7800-1270) = 0.565 pa .s
9 4 .0613
ʋ=µLiquid /ρ Liquid= .565 / 1270=4.45x10-4 m2/s