Core Practical 4: Use a falling-ball

method to determine the viscosity of a

liquid
Dan Kimberley
February 12, 2019

1 Preparation
1.1 Aim
To time the fall of a ball through glycerol to determine the viscosity.

1.2 Underlying Physics

Derivation of equation used to calculate Terminal Velocity.

W = U + Fd

ρs Vs = ρf Vs + 6πηrv

4 4
ρs πr3 g = ρf πr3 g + 6πηrv
3 3

2(ρs − ρf )gr2
v=
9η

2(ρs − ρf )gr2
∴η=
9v
References - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol - 12/02/2019

1.3 Diagram of Equipment

1
1.4 Method
• Measure the mass and radius of the sphere to calculate the density.
• Drop the sphere through the liquid. Place 1 rubber band around the point
where it starts travelling at terminal velocity. Then place 2 subsequent
rubber bands further down the tube to measure 2 velocities.
• Drop the sphere down the cylinder.
• Start the timer when it passes the first rubber band, then note the time
when it passes the next two rubber bands.

• Measure the distance between the first and second and first and third
rubber bands.
• Use these distances and times to calculate the velocity.
• Repeat for spheres of different masses and radii.

1.5 Risk Assessment

Risk How to minimise

Glycerol could cause slipping Mop up spills quickly
Fluids damage electronics Soften the fall with bubble wrap

1.6 Uncertainties

Uncertainty Raw Uncertainty

Time ± 0.5s
Radius ± 0.01mm
Mass ± 0.1g

2
2 Results
2.1 Table

Diameter /m Mass /kg Volume /mˆ3 Density Time 1 /s Time 2 /s Distance 1 /m D

0.01266 0.0084 1.06257E-06 7905.389 0.67 1.01 0.226 0
0.01266 0.0084 1.06257E-06 7905.389 0.58 1.01 0.226 0
0.01349 0.0101 1.28556E-06 7856.527 0.57 0.9 0.224 0
0.01349 0.0101 1.28556E-06 7856.527 0.63 0.92 0.226 0
0.00951 0.0036 4.50398E-07 7992.93 0.98 1.38 0.228 0
0.00951 0.0036 4.50398E-07 7992.93 0.81 1.22 0.225 0
0.00477 0.0004 5.68342E-08 7038.011 6.43 10.13 0.229 0
0.00477 0.0004 5.68342E-08 7038.011 5.79 9.86 0.228 0
0.00634 0.0011 1.33451E-07 8242.709 1.58 2.37 0.226 0
0.00634 0.0011 1.33451E-07 8242.709 1.7 2.28 0.226 0

Radiusˆ2 /m Terminal Velocity /m/s

4.00689E-05 0.34
4.55625E-05 0.363
2.26576E-05 0.25
5.7121E-06 0.0348
1.00489E-05 0.138

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2.2 Graph

2.3 Analysis
The gradient of the radius2 against velocity was 0.0001133.

The density of the iron balls was 7807 kgm−3 .

The density of the glycerol was 1260 kgm−3 .

Substituting this into the earlier equation:

2(7807 − 1260) ∗ (9.81)

η= ∗ 0.0001133 = 1.62P as
9
The true viscosity of glycerol is 1.412P as, ∴ the result obtained was within
15% of the true value.