Viscosity

1.0 ABSTRACT

Viscosity is one of the properties to describe the “fluidity” of fluid. It is a measure of a fluid’s
resistance to flow. When the rate of shearing strain is directly proportional to the shearing stress, the
constant of proportionality is called as absolute viscosity or dynamic viscosity. There are two types of
fluids, Newtonian fluids and non-Newtonian fluids. Newtonian fluids are fluids for which the shearing
stress is linearly related to the rate of shearing strain such as water, oil and gasoline. Meanwhile, non-
Newtonian fluids are fluids for which the shearing stress is not linearly related to the rate of shearing
strain. There is various types of non-Newtonian fluids which are shear thinning fluids (latex paint),
thickening fluids (water-corn starch mixture), and Bingham plastics (toothpaste). From a graph of
shearing stress against rate of shearing strain for non-Newtonian fluids, the slope is denoted as
apparent viscosity, and for Newtonian fluids, this apparent viscosity is the same as the viscosity and is
independent of shear rate.

In this experiment, rotational viscometer, Brookfield Viscometer was used to obtain the average dial
readings when multiple speeds are used (6, 12, 30 and 60 rpm) with interchangeable spindles
(Spindle no. 1, 2, 3 and 4), in order to determine the viscosity of honey and oil. Each spindle has
different shape from each other, results in different surface area and shear rate.

In overall, as the spindle speed increases, the shear stress of honey for each spindle has shown an
upward trend except for spindle no. 1 which is linear at all speed, and a linear on spindle no. 2 from
12 rpm and above. Hence, the honey is less viscous as the graph of viscosity against speed has shown
a downward trend except spindle no. 4. While, for every spindle, the shear stress of oil increases as
the spindle speed increases. Therefore, oil is more viscous at greater spindle speed. However, for
spindle no. 1, the viscosity reduced after 30 rpm, besides the zero viscosity for spindle no.1 at the
speed of 6, 12 and 30 rpm. The variations in the data could be from the errors and limitations during
the experiment such as inertia and secondary flows.

To sum up, these findings show that honey is more viscous than oil which means oil is Newtonian
fluid and honey is non-Newtonian fluid. Different shape of spindle used results in large selection of
viscosity ranges.

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 2.0 OBJECTIVE(S)
1) To determine the viscosity of different types of fluids either the viscosity is constant
regardless of the shear stress (Newtonian fluids) or changing according to the shear rate (non-
Newtonian fluids).
2) To measure a multiple spindles and interchangeable spindle result in a large selection of
viscosity ranges to obtain the nearest constant shear rate.

3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1 Results
3.1.1 Tables

Table 1: Dial readings and its average value when multiple speeds are used with various
spindle number, and the viscosity of honey.

Speed (rpm) Dial reading x Factor =

6 12 30 60 Viscosity in Cp (mPa.s)
Spindl
Dial reading Dial reading Dial reading Dial reading Viscosity
e No.

Averag Averag Averag Averag

1 2 e 1 2 e 1 2 e 1 2 e 6 rpm 12 rpm 30 rpm 60 rpm

1 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 1000.0 500.0 200.0 100.0

2 67.0 67.0 67.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 3350.0 2500.0 1000.0 500.0

3 18.0 18.0 18.0 36.5 36.5 36.5 92.5 92.5 92.5 100.0 100.0 100.0 3600.0 3650.0 3700.0 2000.0

4 3.5 3.5 3.5 7.7 8.0 7.85 20.5 20.5 20.5 42.0 42.0 42.0 3500.0 3925.0 4100.0 4200.0

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 Table 2: Dial readings and its average value when multiple speeds are used with various
spindle number, and the viscosity of oil.

Speed (rpm)
Dial reading x Factor =

6 12 30 60 Viscosity in Cp (mPa.s)
Spindle
Viscosity
No. Dial reading Dial reading Dial reading Dial reading

Averag Averag
1 2 e 1 2 e 1 2 Average 1 2 Average 6 rpm 12 rpm 30 rpm 60 rpm

100.
1 13.5 14.0 13.8 30.5 30.5 30.5 78.0 78.0 78.0 0 100.0 100.0 138.0 152.5 156.0 100.0

2 3.0 3.0 3.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 16.5 16.5 16.5 34.0 34.0 34.0 150.0 150.0 165.0 170.0

3 0 0 0 1.0 1.0 1.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 8.5 8.5 8.5 0 100.0 160.0 170.0

4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.5 2.5 2.5 0 0 0 250.0

Table 3: Shear stress of honey

Spindl Viscosity (cP) when the speed Shear stress (Nm 2) when the speed

e No.
6 rpm 12 rpm 30 rpm 60 rpm 6 rpm 12 rpm 30 rpm 60 rpm

1 1000.0 500.0 200.0 100.0 6000.0 6000.0 6000.0 6000.0

2 3350.0 2500.0 1000.0 500.0 20100.0 30000.0 30000.0 30000.0

111000.
3 21600.0 43800.0 120000.0
3600.0 3650.0 3700.0 2000.0 0

123000.
4 21000.0 47100.0 252000.0
3500.0 3925.0 4100.0 4200.0 0

Table 4: Shear stress of oil

Spindl Viscosity (cP) when the speed Shear stress (Nm 2) when the speed

e No.
6 rpm 12 rpm 30 rpm 60 rpm 6 rpm 12 rpm 30 rpm 60 rpm

1 138.0 152.5 156.0 100.0 828.0 1830.0 4680.0 6000

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2 150.0 150.0 165.0 170.0 900.0 1800.0 4950.0 10200.0

3 0 100.0 160.0 170.0 0 1200.0 4800.0 10200.0

4 0 0 0 250.0 0 0 0 15000.0

3.1.2 Graphs

SHEAR STRESS OF HONEY AGAINST SPINDLE SPEED

(SHEAR RATE/DEFORMATION RATE)
300000

250000
Shear Stress (Nm2)

200000

150000

100000

50000

0
6 12 30 60
Speed (RPM)

Spindle 1 Spindle 2 Spindle 3 Spindle 4

Figure 1: Graph of shear stress of honey against spindle speed

SHEAR STRESS OF OIL AGAINST SPINDLE SPEED (SHEAR

RATE/DEFORMATION RATE)
16000
14000
12000
Shear Stress (Nm2)

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
6 12 30 60
Speed (RPM)

Spindle 1 Spindle 2 Spindle 3 Spindle 4

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 Figure 2: Graph of shear stress of oil against spindle speed

VISCOSITY OF HONEY AGAINST SPINDLE SPEED

4500
4000
3500
Viscosity cP(mPa.s)

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
6 rpm 12 rpm 30 rpm 60 rpm

Spindle Speed (rpm)

Spindle No 1 Spindle No 2 Spindle No 3 Spindle No 4

Figure 3: The graph to show the relationship between viscosity of honey and spindle speed for
each spindle number.

VISCOSITY OF OIL AGAINST SPINDLE SPEED

300

250
Viscosity Cp(mPa.s)

200

150

100

50

0
6 rpm 12 rpm 30 rpm 60 rpm

Spindle Speed (RPM)

Spindle No 1 Spindle No 2 Spindle No 3 Spindle No 4

Figure 4: The graph to show the relationship between viscosity of oil and spindle speed for each
spindle number.

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 3.2 Discussion

The experiment conducted to determine the viscosity of honey and oil and also to
measure multiple speeds and interchangeable spindles resulting in a large selection of
viscosity ranges. In order to measure the viscosity of these fluids, Brookfield Viscometer,
which is a rotational viscometer is used. Viscous drag or resistance to flow is indicated by the
degree to which the spring wind up. Varies viscosity ranges are measured by different speeds
and spindles.

For the honey fluid experiment, the viscosity shows the highest values at 6 RPM for
spindle 1 and spindle 2, which are 1000 cP and 3350 cP respectively. As the speed increases,
the viscosity of honey decreases and the lowest value is at 60 RPM, which are 100 cP and
500 cP respectively. Different from spindle 1 and 2, the viscosities of honey are increasing
when spindle no 3 and 4 are used. But, for spindle number 3, there is a slgiht decrease at the
speed of 60 RPM which it shows the lowest value, 2000 cP. The highest value for spindle
number 4 is 4200 cP.

For the oil experiment, there is no obvious decreasing trend of the viscosities. The
viscosities of oil for all spindles are increasing except for spindle number 1 at speed of 60
RPM. It shows the lowest value of viscosity which is 100 cP.

The viscosity of honey and oil differs because the spindle size and shape and also the
spindles’ speed give effect on the dial reading. This is because all of the spindles has a
different total surface area which affect the shear stress of both fluid. The formula of shear
stress is force (F) per unit area (A). If the total surface area decreases, assuming the force
applied is constant, the amount of shear stress will increase resulting an increasing viscosities
if the applied shear rate is constant. The proved can be seen in the data where the applied
shear rate is 60 RPM. The amount of viscosities increase from 100 cP for spindle 1 until 4200
cP for spindle 4.

According to Newton’s Law of viscosity as below,

the fluid is to be called newtonian fluid when the shear stress of the fluid is directly
proportional to the velocity gradient and the non newtonian fluid will have the shear stress

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that is indirectly proportional to the velocity gradient. According to Irgens (2013), the symbol
that indicates the viscosity has a unit of Ns/m 2 = Pas (Pascal·second). Other units of viscosity
are Poise(P) and centipoise(cP). The unit Poise is named after Jean Lois Marie Poiseuille
(1797-1869). The fluids used for this experiment are honey and oil. In this experiment, the
velocity gradient or the rate of deformation is indicated by the speed of spindles (RPM) while
the shear stress is indicated by the torque made by the rotating spindle when it is immersed in
the fluids. The graph of shear stress against the deformation rate of both fluids are plotted as
in Figure 1 and Figure 2. According to Irgens (2013), the shear stress can simply be
calculated by multiplying the values of the viscosity with the spindle speed (velocity
gradient). The values of viscosities are directly taken from Table 1 for honey and Table 2 for
oil.

Based on Figure 1, the shear stress of honey for spindle 1 and 2 are mostly constant
and for spindle 3 and 4 it has an unstable increase for the values. Basically, the shear stress of
the honey is indirectly proportional to the velocity gradient. If we refer to Figure 3 and Table
1, the viscosities of honey are higher than the viscosities of oil. This shows that hooney is a
non-Newtonian fluid. Based on Figure 2, the shear stress of oil for all spindles basically show
an increasing trend. The shear stress plotted can be said to be directly proportional to the
velocity gradient. In conclusion, the oil is a Newtonian fluid.

4.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The result of the experiment shows that honey is more viscous than oil. The viscosity of honey
changes according to the shear rate (RPM) meanwhile the viscosity of oil is constant regardless of the
shear rate (RPM). In conclusion, oil is Newtonian fluid while honey is Non-Newtonian fluid. By
using the multiple spindles and interchangeable spindle, the fourth spindle shows the most valid graph
line of the viscosity against spindle speed (refer to the Figure 3 and Figure 4); with the theory of
Newtonian fluid and Non-Newtonian fluid (Munson and Young and Okiishi, 2006) due to its wide gap
between the spindle and the wall of the beaker. The shear rate of these fluid has been determined by
the plotted graph.

There are few possible source of error that has falsified the data obtained which are the inertia
and secondary flows. In case which inertial forces cause a small axisymmetric cellular secondary
motion (Taylor’s vortices) (Chhabra and Richardson, 2008). These vortices cause the dissipation of

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energy that leads to the overestimation of the torque and cause the false of the data obtained.
Furthermore, the wall slip, misalignment of the cylinder geometry of spindles to the viscometer and
viscous heating also effect the shear rate and the data readings (Macosko, 1994).

The use of the Brookfield viscometer is followed with some assumptions regarding the
functional form of the flow curve of the material. This Brookfield type instrument assumes that the
speed of the rotation of the spindles is proportial to the shear rate experienced by the fluid. With the
exist of assumptions, in fact, the value obtained by this experiment is not the truly one . So, one
recommendation from this experiment should be taken to obtain the true value of the shear stress-
shear rate of the fluid by changing the instrument used with the ‘rotating disc indexer’. This
instrument widely use in control applications and involves the rotating disc in the ‘sea’ of fluid.
William has described a numerical method for obtaining the true value of the shear stress – shear rate
data with this instrument (Chhabra and Richardson, 2008).

5.0 REFERENCES
1) Munson, B. R., & Young, D. F., & Okiishi T. H. (2006). Fundamentals of Fluid
Mechanics, Fifth Edition. John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd.13-17
2) Chhabra, R. P., & Richardson, J. F. (2008). Non-Newtonian Flow and Applied Rheology:
Engineering Applications. Typeset by Charon Tec Ltd. 78-80
3) Crowe, C.T., & Elger, D.F., & Williams, B.C, & Roberson, J.A. (2009). Engineering Fluid
Mechanics Ninth Edition. United States of America, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 23-24
4) Irgens, F. (July, 25 2013). Non-Newtonian Fluid. Rheology and Non-Newtonian Fluids (4-
6). Retrieved from https://books.google.com.my/books?
id=ROm5BAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=newtonian+and+non+newtonian+fluid&
hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=newtonian%20and%20non%20newtonian
%20fluid&f=false

6.0 APPENDIX
6.1 Jotter Note and Raw Data
(Refer to the back page of the lab reports)

6.2 Sample of calculations

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 Figure 5: Pictures of various spindles

Viscosity in centipoise (cP) for each sample can be calculated by using formula given below:
Viscosity in cP = Average dial Reading × Factor

Table 5: Factor of various spindle numbers at different speeds

Speed (rpm)
Spindle No.
6 12 30 60
1 10 5 2 1
2 50 25 10 5
3 200 100 40 20
4 1000 500 200 100

By referring to Table 1 and Table 5,

Viscosity of honey when

Spindle no. 1 is used at 6 rpm= 100×10 = 1000 cP
Spindle no. 2 is used at 6 rpm = 67×50 = 3350 cP
Spindle no. 3 is used at 6 rpm = 18×200 = 3600 cP
Spindle no.4 is used at 6 rpm = 3.5 × 1000 = 3500 cP
By referring to Table 3,
Shear stress of honey can be calculated from Viscosity in cP × Speed (rpm) when
Spindle no. 1 is used at 6 rpm = 1000 × 6 = 6000 Nm 2
Spindle no. 1 is used at 12 rpm = 500 × 12 = 6000 Nm 2
Spindle no. 1 is used at 30 rpm = 200 × 30 = 6000 Nm 2
Spindle no. 1 is used at 60 rpm = 100 × 60 = 6000 Nm 2

6.3 Tutorial

1. Define Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid.

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 Newtonian fluids are fluids for which the shear stress is directly proportional to the
rate of strain, hence obey the Newton’s law of viscosity. When a graph of shear stress
against the shear strain, it results in a straight line passing through the origin. The
slope of this line is the value of the absolute or dynamic viscosity. The examples of
Newtonian fluids are water, oil and air. While, non-Newtonians fluids are fluids
which the shear stress may not be directly proportional to the rate of strain, hence
disobey the Newton’s law of viscosity. Shear-thinning fluids and Bingham plastic are
among the classes of non-Newtonians fluids (Crowe and Elger and Williams and
Roberson, 2009.

2. How does viscosity of liquid vary with temperature?

Viscosity of liquids decreases as the temperature increases due to the molecular
structure of liquid molecules which are closely spaced, with strong cohesive forces
between molecules, and the resistance to relative motion between adjacent layers of
fluid is related to the intermolecular forces. These cohesive forces are reduced with a
corresponding reduction in resistance to motion as the temperature increases; when
liquids are heated. Since viscosity is an index of this resistance, it follows that the
viscosity is reduced by an increase in temperature (Munson and Young and Okiishi,
2006).

3. What is the cause of viscosity in liquids?

The viscosity in liquids is caused by the strong cohesive forces between molecules.

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