EXPERIMENT 9

VISCOSITY OF WATER

NAME: CARLOS BABU

DATE: 26/04/18

WEEK: 11

PARTNER: S11135637
PARTNER: S11135637
PARTNER: S11089743
Aim
The main aim behind conducting this experiment is to measure the coefficient of the viscosity of
water using the capillary flow rate method.

Apparatus
Large glass jar with stop tap, laboratory jerk, spirit level, stop watch, meter rule, capillary tube,
traveling microscope, glass beaker and thermometer. As seen in the image below is the setup.
Method
The method used to carry out this experiment can be found in the Ph102 lab manual. Referring to
page 48, experiment 9.

Introduction / Theory
Viscosity is the measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow. Water has low viscosity compared to other
fluid mechanism, and its viscosity is varied by the temperature. The resistances or friction in a
fluid gives increase to shearing stresses amid layers of the fluid when they change relative to each
other or when fluid moves in a tube or around obstacles.

The coefficient of viscosity is defined as the ratio of the shearing stress to the rate of shear.
However, by considering the shearing stress, the tangential force is divided by the area of the
cross section. The expression is given the viscosity η is
𝐹⁄ 𝐹. 𝐷
𝜂=𝑣 𝐴=
⁄𝑑 𝐴. 𝑣

The speed of viscosity of water moves through a tube/pipe is not the equal at all the point along
the cross-section. These shows that the walls of the tube/pipe exert a retrograde force drag on the
fluid at the same layer. The speed profile is that of a parabola such the velocity across the tube
𝑃 −𝑃
section is given by; 𝑣 = 14𝜂𝐿 2 (𝑅 2 − 𝑟 2 )

When the top of a bottle or an apparatus have constant and quantifiable pressure variation, then
the pressure at the water-air surface inside the bottle is equal to the atmospheric pressure which
is given below.
𝑃1 = 𝑃0 + 𝜌𝑔𝐻
At point P2, 𝑃2 = 𝑃0

Therefore 𝑃1 − 𝑃2 = 𝜌𝑔𝐻

Now substituting from the equations above, the flow rate can be expressed as;
𝑑𝑉 𝜋𝑅 4 𝜌𝑔𝐻
𝑄= =
𝑑𝑡 8𝜂𝐿

From experiment, and plot the graph of Q verses H from above, the viscosity can be determined
𝜋𝑅 4 𝜌𝑔
by using the slope 𝑆 = 8𝜂𝐿

Therefore when looking at the formula above, it is possible to determine the viscosity 𝜂 of water
𝜋𝑅 4 𝜌𝑔 1
by 𝜂 = .𝑆
8𝐿
 Results and Discussion
Average Temperature of water T = 28°C ±1 °C

Density of water 𝜌 = 996.23 ± 0.01

Radius of the capillary tube R = 0.41 ± 0.01 mm

Length of the tube L = 0.27 ± 0.01 m

Table 1 All Units are already in there SI Units

Height (m) ± 0.01 m Mass of water M Volume of water Volume flow-rate

𝑴
(kg) ± 0.1 kg V(𝒎𝟑 ) 𝑽 = 𝝆 ±0.01 Q(𝒎𝟑 /𝒔) ± 0.01 (𝒎𝟑 /𝒔)
0.18 12.88 1.29 1.08 × 10−7
0.15 10.64 1.06 8.90 × 10−8
0.16 11.12 1.12 9.30 × 10−8
0.17 11.36 1.14 9.50 × 10−8
0.16 11.28 1.13 9.44 × 10−8
0.17 11.44 1.15 9.57 × 10−8

Graph of Q vs. H

Graph of Volume Flow Rate Vs Heigth (H)

1.2E-07
Volume Flow rate (Q) in M^3/s

0.0000001

8E-08 y = 6E-07x - 4E-09

R² = 0.8251

6E-08

4E-08

2E-08

0
0.15 0.155 0.16 0.165 0.17 0.175 0.18 0.185
Heigth (H) in Meters

All units are already converts to its SI units and there for the slope is roughly 5.99056E-07 𝑀2 /𝑠
 OBSERVATION

Viscosity is characterize as the degree of internal friction in a fluid. This can observed when fluid
flows in tube. From the experiment observation it signifies that as the height increases, the amount
of water flow to the beaker recorded is also increases. Therefore this means that as the height
increases, the friction inside the tube is less which cause the flow rate high. In addition, the graph
also verifies the condition where (H) increase, (Q) also increase.

Analysis/Simple Calculations

1. Calculation of the coefficient of viscosity with uncertainty.

𝝅𝑹𝟒 𝝆𝒈 𝟏
𝜼= ∙
𝟖𝒍 𝒔
Where 𝑅 = 4.1 × 10−4 𝑚
𝝆 = 996.23
𝑔 = 9.8
𝐿 = 0.27 𝑚
𝑠 = 5.99056 × 10−7

𝜋(4.1 × 10−4 )4 (996.23)(9.8) 1

𝜼= ∙
8(0.27) (5.99056 × 10−7 )

𝜼 = 0.00067 Or (𝟔. 𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 ) ± 𝟎. 𝟏 𝑷𝒂. 𝒔

Comparison of obtained value with the literature value of viscosity of

water.

Literature Value – Experimental Value

(8.9 × 10−4 𝑃𝑎. 𝑠) − (6.7 × 10−4 𝑃𝑎. 𝑠) = (𝟐. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝑷𝒂. 𝒔)

 DISCUSSION

Viscosity or fluid friction occurs within the adjacent layer of a tube where water or liquid flows
through. This experiment is quite interesting in terms of observing how the fluid flow when height
is varied. From observation as stated above, the resultant mass of water weigh was also increase.
This signifies that the flow rate is increase as the height increase and the friction inside the layer
of the tube decreases. Therefore it clearly clarified that the gravity plays very important role of
determining the viscosity.

However the experiment was successfully carried out and also manage to determine what was
supposed to find. The main purpose was to determine the viscosity of water 𝜂. From the help of
𝜋𝑅4 𝜌𝑔 1
the given formula 𝜂 = 8𝑙 ∙ 𝑠 , the unknown quantity was successfully determine where 𝜂 equals
is (6.7 × 10−4 ) ± 0.1 𝑃𝑎. 𝑠 . Moreover, from the data recorded and calculations done, the
experimental value of 𝜂 is not exact to the literature value (8.9 × 10−4 𝑃𝑎. 𝑠). This is due to
errors encountered during the practical.
In addition to that, the differences of value of literature and experiment is(2.2 × 10−4 𝑃𝑎. 𝑠).
When converting to percentage, was 27.7%.

Questions

a. Why is it important to measure r as accurately as possible?

𝜋𝑅4 𝜌𝑔 1
Ans. Measuring r is very important because it plays important role in the formula 𝜂 = 8𝑙 ∙ 𝑠
for calculating the subject quantity which is the required unknown for this experiment. If r is
just rough measured, then the result will affected also.

b. Why is it important to record the temperature of the water?

Ans. It is important because of the relationship “different temperature, different coefficient of
viscosity of water”. Therefore this conclude that at particular temperature, the viscosity is
difference.

c. What would be wrong if you took a flow measurement with the clamp partly closed?
Ans. If the clamp partly closed, the flow rate will wrong.

d. Is it true that the viscosity of a liquid on the Moon is less than that on Earth? Explain.
Ans. Yes it is true. This is due the gravity of a body in moon is (1/6) times that of earth. Because
gravity plays a role for determine the viscosity of liquid.
 CONCLUSION

All the analysis, data recording, graphing and calculation are done successfully. It was interesting
and gives the advanced idea of how the viscosity of fluid will determined in these kind of
practical. By the help of the results and formula derived, the experiment was comes to its
conclusion that it determined what was the main perspective, which is to determine the viscosity
of water. The value of (𝜂) “viscosity” from the calculation is (6.7 × 10−4 ) ± 0.1 𝑃𝑎. 𝑠. As
mentioned that there are some possible errors occurs in this practical which contributed to the
failure for achieve the same value as literature. One main source effect to this results is measuring
of (r) is not done properly or accurate. Therefore as recommended that when doing such
experiment in the future, taking into account that the value of (r) must be measured accurate to
avoid such failure.
 REFERENCE

Dr. Ajal Kumar, 2012 Ph102 Classical Physics Lab Manual University of the South Pacific,
Suva, Fiji.