Experiment 3

Specific Weight and Dynamic Viscosity

Objective: Determine the specific weight and the viscosity of

liquids at room temperature.

Apparatus:
Hydrometer cylinder
Scale
Stopwatch
Several small spheres with weight and diameter to be
measured
Test liquid

Theory:
One

of

the

properties

of

homogeneous

liquids

is

their

resistance to motion. A measure of this resistance is known as

viscosity. It can be measured in different, standardized methods
or tests. In this experiment, viscosity will be measured with a
falling sphere viscometer.

The Falling Sphere Viscometer

When an object falls through a fluid medium, the object
reaches a constant final speed or terminal velocity. If this
terminal velocity is sufficiently low, then the various forces
acting on the object can be described with exact expressions. The
forces

acting

on

sphere,

for

example,

that

is

falling

at

terminal velocity through a liquid are:

drag , FD 3Vd

3
buoyancy , FB l d

sphere

weight , W s

d 3
6

Figure 3.1

Note that the expression given in Figure 3.1 for the drag
force is derived from Stokes Law and is valid only for small
Reynolds number.
According

to

Newtons

Second

Law

(since

accelerating):

F 0
Drag + Buoyancy - Weight = 0
FD FB W 0

the

sphere

is

not

3Vd l

d 3
d 3
s
0
6
6
(3.1)

Algebraic manipulation yields an expression for

l
,

in terms of

s , l ,
, d and V or in terms of

d 2 s l

18V

d and V:

d 2 g s l

18V
or

(3.2)

s
Where d is the sphere diameter,

is the specific weight of

l
sphere,

is the specific weight of liquid, V is the spheres

s
terminal velocity,

l
is the spheres density,

is the liquid

density, g is average acceleration of gravity and

is the

viscosity of liquid.
Equation (3.2) is valid for a sphere falling far from a
wall. The wall effect occurs when the falling sphere is close
to a wall. The wall effect affects the sphere when the ratio of
the sphere diameter d to the tube diameter D is greater the one
third:

d 1

D 3
(3.3)

Vo ,
The
using:

observed

fall

velocity,

must

then

be

corrected

V
9d 9d
1

Vo
4D 4D

(3.4)
The drag force on a sphere may also be calculated by:

FD C D AP

V2
2
(3.5)

In this experiment: After measuring the terminal velocity of

spheres falling through a fluid, the viscosity of a liquid will
be determined according to (3.2). Equation (3.5) is then used to
calculate the coefficient of drag.

The above expressions for drag is valid only if the following

equation is valid:

Vd
1

Once the viscosity of the liquid is found, the above ratio

should be calculated to be certain that the mathematical model
gives an accurate description of a sphere falling through the
liquid.

Procedure:
1. Drop a sphere into the cylinder liquid and record the
time it takes for the sphere to fall a certain measured distance.
The distance divided by the measured time gives the terminal
velocity of the sphere.

2. Repeat the measurement and average the results. With

the terminal velocity of this and of other spheres measured and
known, the absolute and kinematic viscosity of the liquid can be
calculated. The temperature of the test liquid should also be
recorded. Use at least three different spheres. (Note that if the
density of the liquid is unknown, it can be obtained from any
group who has completed or is taking data on Experiment #1.
Procedure:
1. Record the temperature of the liquids (use the ambient
temperature if the liquids have been in the room for a long
period of time).
2. Calculate the specific weight of each liquid by weighing
a known volume. The tare weight of the calibrated containers (not
including

the

stoppers)

is

scribed

on

the

outside

measure

its

diameter

of

each

container.
3.

Weigh

each

sphere

and

with

micrometer (to account for out-of-round conditions, take several

measurements

at

various

diameters

and

average

the

result).

Calculate the specific weight of each sphere.

NOTE: if the specific weight of the sphere is not greater
than that of the fluid, it will float and not fall - choose
another sphere.
4. Measure and record the inside diameter of the tubes.
5. Measure and record a vertical fall distance on each tube
(the distance need not be the same for each tube). Use a scribed
line or masking tape to locate the distance. There should be
ample liquid above and below the lines so that the sphere will
not be influenced by the bail bucket and to allow the person with
the

stopwatch

an

adequate

distance

to

visually

identify

the

sphere dropping. Check that the handle of the bucket will not
interfere with the travel of the sphere.
6. Drop a sphere into the liquid using the tweezers and time
the descent through the marked distance using the stopwatch.
Record the travel time. The sphere should be dropped just at the
fluid level so that the sphere will achieve terminal velocity
prior to the marked distance.
7. Repeat item 6 for each sphere. When all spheres have been
dropped, retrieve the bail bucket with the hooked rod. Remove the
spheres from the bucket, cleaning them thoroughly with towels or
rags. Push the bucket back down using the rod, then remove and
clean the rod with towels or rags.
8. Repeat 6 and 7 for each tube.

Illustration:

Computation:
Liquid used:_______________________
Temperature of the liquid:_________
Diameter of the tube, D:___________
Diameter of the sphere, d:_________
Mass of the sphere, Ms:_____________
Mass of the liquid, Ml:_____________
Volume of the liquid, Vl:___________
Weight of the liquid, Wl:___________
Weight of the sphere, Ws:___________
Fall distance of the sphere, h:_____
Time of fall of the sphere, t:______

1. Determine the specific weight of the liquid,

Wl M l g

Vl
Vl

Vs
2. Determine the volume of the sphere,

1
Vs d 3
6

s
3. Determine the specific weight of the sphere,

Ws M s g

Vs
Vs

4. Determine the terminal velocity of the sphere, V

h
t

5. Determine the dynamic viscosity of the liquid,

d 2 s l
18V

6. Repeat the procedures 1 to 5 using another size of

sphere, at least three different sizes of spheres.
7. Evaluate the value specified in equations 2.3 to 2.5

Tabulation:
Liquid

Tube

Sphere

Sphere

Fall

Time

Terminal

Diam.

No.

Diam.

Dist.

of fall

Velocity

Corr.

Visco

Velocity

-sity

Illustrations: (Actual experiments)

Problems and Questions:

1. Should the terminal
spheres be the same?

velocity

of

two

different

size

2. Does a larger sphere have a higher terminal velocity?

3. Should the viscosity found for two different size spheres
be the same? Why or why not?
4. If different size spheres give different results for the
viscosity, what are the error sources? Calculate the % error and
account for all known error sources.
5. What are the shortcomings of this method?
6. Why should temperature be recorded.
7. Can this method be used for gases?
8. Can this method be used for opaque liquids?

9. Can this method be used for something like peanut butter,

or grease or flour dough? Why or why not?