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DETERMINATION OF LIQUID VISCOSITY BY STOCK`S METHOD
INTRODUCTION:
This laboratory investigation involves determining the viscosity and mass
density ofan unknown fluid using Stokes’ Law. Viscosity is a fluid
property that provides anindication of the resistance to shear within a
fluid. Specifically, you will be using afluid column as a viscometer. To
obtain the viscometer readings you will use astopwatch to determine the
rate of drop of various spheres within the fluid. You willdetermine both
density and viscosity.
Definition of Viscosity: that properties of fluid which causes resistance to
relative motion (or shear) within a fluid.
Types of viscometers:
1. Rotational cylinder viscometer.
2. Capillary glass viscometer.
3. Falling ball viscometer.
EQUIPMENTS:
1. Graduated cylinder.
2. Digital balance.
3. Micrometer.
4. Vernier.
5. Ruler.
6. Stop-watch.
7. Metallic ball.
8. Different liquids (olive oil, engine oil).
THEORY:
The FBD in this figure lists three forces acting on the sphere; Fb, Fd, and
mg. Thefirst two forces arise from the buoyancy effect of displacing the
fluid in question andfrom the viscous drag of the fluid on the sphere,
respectively. Both forces act upwards buoyancy tending to 'float' the
sphere (Fb) and the drag force (Fd)resisting the acceleration of gravity.
The only force acting downwards is the bodyforce resulting from
gravitational attraction (mg). By summing forces in the verticaldirection
we can write the following equation,
………………………………………………….(2)
The buoyancy force is simply the weight of displaced fluid. As you may
recall fromearlier work in science and math, the volume of a sphere
(vsphere) is written as,
…………………………………………… (3)
Combining this volume with the mass density of the fluid, ρfluid, we can
now write thebuoyancy force as the product,
………………………….. (4)
Where gis the gravitational acceleration and r is the radius of the sphere.
Combiningall of the previous relationships that describe the forces acting
on the sphere in a fluidwe can write the following expression,
………………….….. (5)
Rearranging and regrouping the terms from the above equation we arrive
at thefollowing relationship,
…………………………….….. (6)
Readings: