Ministry of High Education and

Scientific Research Middle

Technical University Engineering
Technical College – Baghdad

MEASUREMENT OF VISCOSITY OF LIQUID

‫اعداد الطالب \ مصطفى ابراهيم ثجيل‬

‫القسم \ الميكانيك التطبيقي‬
B ‫المرحلة \ الثانية‬
Objectives:

To measure the viscosity of a sample liquid.

Overview
In general, in any flow, layers move at different velocities and
the fluid's viscosity arises from the shear stress between the
layers that ultimately opposes any applied force. The
relationship between the shear stress and the velocity gradient
can be obtained by considering two plates closely spaced at a
distance y, and separated by a homogeneous substance.
Assuming that the plates are very large, with a large area A,
such that edge effects may be ignored, and that the lower plate
is fixed, let a force F be applied to the upper plate. If this force
causes the substance between the plates to undergo shear flow
with a velocity gradient u (as opposed to just shearing
elastically until the shear stress in the substance balances the
applied force), the substance is called a fluid.
The applied force is proportional to the area and velocity
gradient in the fluid and inversely
proportional to the distance between the plates. Combining these
three relations results in the equation:

Apparatus :

Glass tube (ii)Steel balls, (iii) Retort stand and clamps, (iv)
Weighing balance, (v) Screw gauge, (vi) Stopwatch, (vii)
Sample liquid (castor oil/glycerin), (viii) Tweezers and (ix)
Rubber bands for marking calibration points, (x ) Cleaning
accessories

Introduction:

Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid which is being

deformed by either shear stress or tensile stress. In everyday
terms (and for fluids only), viscosity is “thickness”. Thus, water
is “thin”, having a lower viscosity, while honey is “thick”,
having a higher viscosity.
Put simply, the less viscous the fluid is, the greater its ease of
movement (fluidity).In general, in any flow, layers move at
different velocities and the fluid’s viscosity arises from the shear
stress betweenthe layers that ultimately opposes any applied
force.

In a Newtonian fluid, the relation between the shear stress and

the strain rate is linear with the constant of proportionality
defined as the viscosity. In the case of a non- Newtonian fluid,
the flow properties cannot be described by a single constant
viscosity. Some non-Newtonian fluids thicken when a shear
stress is applied (e.g. cornflour suspensions), whereas some can
become runnier under shear stress (e.g. nondrip
paint).Industrially, understanding the viscous properties of
liquids is extremely important and relevant to the transport of
fluids as well as to the development and performance of paints,
lubricants and food-stuffs.

Theoretical background:

A body moving in a fluid feels a frictional force in a direction

opposite to its direction of motion. The magnitude of this force
depends on the geometry of the body, its velocity, and the
internal friction of the fluid. A measure for the internal friction
is given by the dynamic viscosity η. For a sphere of radius r
moving at velocity vin an infinitely extended fluid of dynamic
viscosity η, G.G. Stokes derived an expression for the frictional
force: F1
If the sphere falls vertically in the fluid, after a time, it will
move at a constant velocity v, and all the forces acting on the
sphere
will be in equilibrium (Fig. 1): the frictional force F1which acts
upwards, the buoyancy force F2 which also acts upwards and
the downward acting gravitational force F3. The two forces F2
and F3 are given by:
In practice, equation 5 has to be corrected since the assumption
that the fluid extends infinitely in all directions is unrealistic and
the velocity distribution of the
fluid particles relative to the surface of the sphere is affected by
the finite dimensions of the fluid. For more accurate values of
viscosity wall effect need to taken into account. The modified
expression for high viscous liquids with the correction is as
follows:

While Stokes’ Law is straight forward, it is subject to some

limitations. Specifically, this relationship is valid only for
‘laminar’ flow. Laminar flow is defined as a condition where
fluid particles move along in smooth paths in lamina (fluid
layers gliding over one another). The alternate flow condition is
termed ‘turbulent’ flow. This latter condition is characterized by
fluid particles that move randomly in irregular paths causing an
exchange of momentum between particles.
Units: The SI physical unit of viscosity is Pascal-second (Pa.s,
equivalent to N.s/m2or kg/ms). The CGS unit is poise (P),
named after Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille. It is more commonly
expressed as centipoise (cP) or milli Pascal-second (mPa.s). The
conversion factor is 1cP = 1mPa·s = 0.001Pa·s. 1 Poise =
100 centi Poise. Castor oil at room temperature has a viscosity
of ~ 650 cP or ~0.65N.s/m2.

Experimental Setup:

The experimental set up, shown in Fig. 2,is based on Stokes’

Law. It is filled with the sample liquid under investigation. A
steel ball is allowed to fall down this tube over a calibrated
distance. The falling time is recorded and then utilized to
determine the viscosity at room temperature.
Theory:

When a spherical ball of (radius r) is

dropped in a viscous field it moves in it with
certain velocity ‘ν’ (say) it experiences an
opposing force(viscous force Fd). According
to Stoke’s law this viscous force is given by

Simultaneously it experiences an upthrust (or buoyant force) 𝐹

and gravitational force 𝐹. 𝐹 tries to increase the velocity of ball
whereas Fd decreases the velocity. After some time the ball will
move with a steady velocity, called the terminal velocity.
Under the steady condition.

where and represent respectively the density of the material of

the ball and that of the fluid, and g is the acceleration due to
gravity. In actual practice the experiment is performed in a
liquid column of finite depth H contained in a cylinder of inner
radius R. To take into
account the effect of the finite depth and radius of the liquid
column two corrections, known as Ladenburg corrections, are
introduced as multipliers of the observed velocity ‘ v' . Thus the
terminal velocity v is given by where the first correction term
accounts for the finite radius of the liquid column and the
second correction term is used for the finite depth of the liquid
column. The relations (1) and (2) are the working formulae of
the experiment. In SI units, the radii r and R are expressed in m,
H in m, v'in m/s, the densities and in kg/m3. And g in m/ss.
Then h is obtained in N.s/m2 or Poiseulle (PI). The relation (1) is
deduced from Stoke’s law and indicates that for a given liquid
at a given temperature the ratio r2/ v should be a constant.
Thus, the verification of Stoke’s law requires that a graph of r2
along the x-axis and ‘ v ’ along the y-axis should be a straight
line. By using a value of r2 / v from this graph and measuring all
other physical parameters appearing on the right-hand side of
Eq.(1), the coefficient of viscosity of the liquid can be
determined.
Photos to some devices for viscosity measurement
Procedure:

1. Mesurement of diameter of falling ball:

Determine the least count (vernier constant) of the screw

gauge. Measure the radii of at least three balls using the
screw gauge.
2. Measuring the falling times:

Carefully clamp the glass tube to the retort stand and make
sure it is vertically aligned. Choose marked calibrated positions
and ensure that the ball indeed falls with terminal velocity. Pick
one of the given balls and roll it in the sample liquid to wet its
surface thoroughly before dropping into the glass tube. Fig. 2

After some time the ball will move with a steady velocity, called
the terminal velocity. Under the steady condition.
where and represent respectively the density of the
material of the ball and that of the fluid, and g is the
acceleration due to gravity.
In actual practice the experiment is performed in a liquid
column of finite depth H contained in a cylinder of inner radius
R. To take into account the effect of the finite depth and radius
of the liquid column two corrections, known as Ladenburg
corrections, are introduced as multipliers of the observed
velocity ‘ v' . Thus the terminal velocity v is given by
where the first correction term accounts for the finite radius of
the liquid column and the second correction term is used for
the finite depth of the liquid column. The relations (1) and (2)
are the working formulae of the experiment.
In SI units, the radii r and R are expressed in m, H in m, v'in m/s,
the densities and in kg/m3. And g in m/ss. Then h is obtained
in N.s/m2 or Poiseulle (PI).
Discussion

1- Why are some liquids more viscous than others ?

Since the viscosity deperds on the liquids molecules, whether the liquids
molecules connected to each strog, liquid be less able to move ,and this
called (high viscous ).

2- If using a large ball, is the viscosity will be change ? why ?

Not change, only change with temperature this is because of the change
in the mass of the ball and the size of the fluid, since the law of density is
the mass over the volume.

3- If the temperature increased, what will happen about the dynamic

viscosity ?

When temperature increased the distance between molecules increases

and cohes force decreases. So, viscosity of liquid decrease when the
temperature increases.

4- What is the shortcoming of this method ?

Shortcomings in this way :-

There is no device available for this method.
The ball drop measurement in this method is inaccurate.
Measuring time in this way is inaccurate.
Using the beaker in this method is an error.
References

1. Symon, Keith (1971). Mechanics (Third ed.). Addison-

Wesley. ISBN 0-201-07392-7.

2. "The Online Etymology Dictionary"

(http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term= viscous).
Etymonline.com. . Retrieved 2010-0914.

3. Raymond A. Serway (1996). Physics for Scientists &

Engineers (4th ed.). Saunders College Publishing. ISBN 0-
03-005932-1.

4. Victor Lyle Streeter, E. Benjamin Wylie, Keith

5. W. Bedford Fluid Mechanics, McGraw-Hill, 1998

6. ISBN 0070625379

7. [5] J. P. Holman Heat Transfer, McGraw-Hill,

8. 2002 ISBN 0071226214

9. [6] Frank P. Incropera, David P. DeWitt,

10. Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, Wiley,

11. 2007 ISBN 0471457280

12. IUPAC Gold Book, Definition of (dynamic)

viscosity

13. (http://goldbook.iupac.org/D01877.html)

14. "IUPAC definition of the Poise"

15. (http://www.iupac.org/goldbook/P04705.pdf#s
earch="poise iupac"). . Retrieved 2010-09