9.

0 DISCUSSION

The experiment is conducted to determine the relationship between the velocity and
angular velocity for free vortex and forced vortex respectively. The fluid mass for the free vortex
rotates without external force. On the other hand, forced vortex rotates by a constant torque
exerted by some external source onto the fluid mass.

When water flows out of a vessel through a central hole in the base, a free vortex is
formed. In experiment 1, the water flows out through different diameters of orifice, which are 12
mm and 24 mm. Once the flow had stabilized, the diameter at center, height, pitot tube head
difference and pressure head were recorded and calculated. It is found that, the smaller the
diameter of orifice used, the smaller the vortex formed. This occurs because when the orifice size
gets smaller, the less water can flow out from the tank. When less water gets out, the smaller the
vortex formed. The theoretical velocities were calculated from the graph of pressure head against
1/r2 is plotted. Besides, the graph velocity versus radius is plotted. From the graph, the velocity
of different vortex radius is compared. The radius of vortex formed by using the 24 mm diameter
of orifice is larger than the radius of vortex formed by using the 12 mm diameter of orifice.
Therefore, from the graph, it is shown that when the radius of vortex formed is larger, the
velocity of the water flow out is larger as well. Hence, the velocity of water flow through 24 mm
orifice is higher compared to the velocity of water flow through the 12 mm orifice.

On the other hand, forced vortex is formed when a liquid is rotated by a paddle within a
tank. The surface profile of forced vortex is a parabolic shape and is dependent to the angular
velocity of the rotation. The rotational speed of the paddle was measured by counting the number
of rotations in 60 seconds. In experiment 2, the propeller was used to determine the revolution of
the propeller per second. As water flow into the container, it will force the propeller to move.
Then, the velocity of the water is maintained as the needle is put inside the tank to touch the
surface of the water thus the length of the needle when it touched the water surface, h 0, is
measured. The experiment is repeated by measuring the length of the needle when it touched the
water surface, h0, at different distance from the center, which are 30 mm, 70 mm and 110 mm
from center. Based on the experiment, we can see that the further the distance from the center,
the higher the h0 value. Theoretical value, h, is calculated for every experiment by using the
formula. The graph h and h0 versus the distance from center are plotted. For all the graphs, some
of the measured depth of the vortex is slightly different from the theoretical values. The different
in height between the measured and the theoretical is due to the error that occurs during the
experiment was conducted.

One of the error that occurs in the experiment is the water level in the tank is not constant
when the height of the vortex is measured. Next, the needle is too sink in the water and causes
slightly difference between the value of the h measured and the theoretical value, h 0, calculated.
Besides, the pitot tube pipe is not pointed correctly to the direction of the water flow and causes
the pitot tube head difference, H, measured is not accurate. Furthermore, it is also possible that
the source of the error is because of the needle is moving after it had been adjusted to touch the
surface of the water. Lastly, the control valve is ignored and results the height difference between
the first, second and the third reading.

There are definitely a few ways to overcome these errors and improve the results of the
experiment. Firstly, the water level should be observe frequently to make sure that the water
level stays constant when the height of the vortex at specific distances is measured. Next, the
needle should not be sink in too much as it will affect the value of h obtained. Moreover, the
water should flow directly to the pipe of the pitot tube when the measurement of pitot tube head
difference is done. Finally, the control valve should be handle throughout the time to keep the
water level constant.

There are some precaution steps that should be alert in this experiment. Firstly, do not let
the water overflow through the whole of the mixing cylinder. Second, do not set the speed of the
water flow too fast as it may causes the water from spilling out. Third, always keep the needle
from pointing downwards and prevent it to have contact with skin to avoid eye injuries and
bleeding. Next, dry every instruments used with a cloth as the water can result oxidation process
to happen. Let the water fully flow out before taking out the propeller from the mixing cylinder.