Topic No.

5 – Viscosity

General Concept:

Some liquids flow more readily than others. If it flow slowly, it means the liquid has a
high viscosity (like, lubricating oil). If it flows easily, then the liquid has a low viscosity
(like, water).

In general, viscosity of a liquid determines its rate of flow. Viscosity is the resistance
experienced by one layer of a liquid in moving past another layer. The quantity is measured
using either the Poiseuille’s or Stokes’ equations. The unit for viscosity is poise.

Mathematically: viscosity may be expressed as follows:

force  distance between surfaces

velocity  area
dynes  cm dynes  sec
 
cm  cm 2
cm 2
sec

The symbol used to represent viscosity is η (eta).

Measurement of viscosity

1. The Poiseuille’s method employs the use of an Ostwald viscometer (please see Figure 1
– 13, page 55 of the course textbook).The method consists in measuring the time of flow
of a known volume of the liquid (that is contained between the marks a and b through a
capillary of known length and radius, under the influence of gravity. By theoretical
means, Poiseuille determines that

b
L(cm)
 r 4 pt

8  LV
  viscocity in poise , g cm sec

dynes
where: p = hydrostatic P on the liquid (which is proportional to its density),
cm 2
t = time of flow in seconds
r = radius of the capillary in cm
L = length of the capillary in cm
V = volume of the liquid in cc

If we measure the time of flow of the same volume of 2 liquids through the same
capillary, then the ratio of the viscosity of the 2 liquids is given by

1 r 4 p1t1 8LV
  4
2 8LV r p2t 2
1 pt
 11
 2 p2 t 2
Since p1 and p2 are proportional to their densities

1 p1t1 1t1
 
 2 p2 t 2  2 t 2
2. The falling ball method consists in determining the time necessary for a sphere of a given
size and weight to fall through a column of known length of the liquid. Stokes’ law is the
basis of the falling sphere viscosimeter and is given by the equation:

2r 2   m g

9 V
where: r = radius of the spherical object; ρ = density of the spherical object;
ρm = density of the liquid; g = acceleration due to gravity;
V = velocity of the falling sphere
What is a viscometer?

It consists of a vertical cylindrical tube filled with the liquid under test and immersed in
a thermostat at the desired temperature. A steel ball, of density 𝜌, and a diameter suitable to
give a slow rate of fall is now dropped through the neck of the tube and the time of fall
between 2 marks is determined by a stopwatch. If the process is repeated with a liquid of
known density and viscosity then the above eq’n will become;

1   m1 t1

 2   m2 t 2
1
Another term frequently employed which η = fluidity, ϕ =

Table 1-9 (page 56, course textbook) gives the η in centipoises of several liquids at
various temperatures. With very rare exceptions, η decreases with increase in temperature.
To represent η as a f (T)
A
log   B
T
(this holds true for a large number of pure liquids)

Note: Viscosity depends upon the size, shape and chemical nature of its molecules and,
in general, decreases rapidly with rise in temperature
actual viscosity
relative viscosity 
absolute viscosity

SW: 45, 46, 48, 50