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Title: Terminal velocity

Aim: To determine

Apparatus/Materials:
 Micrometer screw gauge
 Measuring cylinder (1000 ml)
 Ball bearings
 Tong
 Velcro tape
 Gloves
 Corn Starch
Diagram:

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Principle/Theory:
Assuming that the relation between terminal velocity v and the diameter d is the form v is
directly proportional to dn , then

𝑣/𝑐𝑚𝑠 −1
= 𝑘 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑘 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑑 𝑛
(𝑚𝑚)
Taking logs and rearranging
Log 10(v/cms-1) =nlog10 (d/mm) + log 10k

The slope of the graph is thus the value of n

Procedure:

1. The measuring cylinder was clamped using the tong and filled with cornstarch.
2. The measuring cylinder was allowed to stand until nearly all the air bubbles
disappeared.
3. Velcro tape was used to collar the measuring cylinder, one was placed near the
bottom, and the other was placed a few centimeters from the surface of the
cornstarch.
4. Two balls of the same diameter were selected and the diameter was measured.
5. The temperature of the cornstarch was taken before the trial.
6. The clamp was used to drop the metal ball as close as possible to the centre of the
measuring cylinder.
7. The time taken for the ball to fall between the paper collars was recorded.
8. The results were tabulated.
9. A graph of log10(v/cms-1) against values of log 10(d/mm) were plotted.

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Observations/Results:
Time( second ,s )
Trial Small ball bearing Medium ball Large ball bearing
bearing
1 0.0137 0.0056 0.0044
2 0.00725 0.00385 0.00325
3 0.0022 0.0028 0.00195
Average time 0.00772 0.00408 0.0032

TABLE SHOWING BALL BEARINGS AND THE CORRESPONDING TIME IT

TOOK TO FALL.
Calculations:

- Finding velocity

-Small ball bearing

18
= 2,331.6cms −1
0.00772

-Medium ball bearing

18
= 4,411.7cms −1
0.00408

-Large ball bearing

18
= 5,625𝑐𝑚𝑠 −1
0.0032

-finding log of velocity and diameter of ball bearing

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Ball bearings
Small Medium Large
Average 2,331.6 4,411.76 5,625
velocity(cms-1)
Diameter of ball 10.50 13.44 17.03
bearings(cm)
Logs
Average 3.37 3.64 3.75
velocity(cms-1)
Diameter of ball 1.02 1.13 1.23
bearings(cm)

TABLE SHOWING LOG OF VELOCITY AND DIAMETER OF BALL

BEARINGS

-Gradient of graph

𝑌2− 𝑌1
𝑀=
𝑋2 − 𝑋1

3.65 − 3.45 0.2

𝑀= = = 2.22
1.16 − 1.07 0.09

N= 2.22

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-finding the value of the constant K

𝑣/𝑐𝑚𝑠 −1
= 𝑘 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑘 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑑 𝑛
(𝑚𝑚)

-Small ball bearing

2,331.6
= 12.6
(10.50)2.22

-Medium ball bearing

4,411.76
= 13.79
(13.44)2.22
-large ball bearing
5,625
= 11
(17.03)2.22

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Discussion:
Terminal velocity is the highest velocity attainable by an object as it falls through a fluid.
It occurs when the sum of the drag force and the buoyancy is equal to the downward
force of gravity acting on the object. Since the net force on the object is zero, the object
has zero acceleration. In 1851, George Gabriel Stokes derived an expression, now known
as Stokes's law. Stokes’s law state that the force that retards a sphere moving through a
viscous fluid is directly proportional to the velocity of the sphere, the radius of the
sphere, and the viscosity of the fluid. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to
flow. It describes the internal friction of a moving fluid. A fluid with large viscosity
resists motion because its molecular makeup gives it a lot of internal friction. A fluid with
low viscosity flows easily because its molecular makeup results in very little friction
when it is in motion. Velocity gradient is the difference in velocity between adjacent
layers of the fluid is known as a velocity gradient and is given by v/x, where v is the
velocity difference and x is the distance between the layers. The coefficient of viscosity
is the degree to which a fluid resists flow under a applied force , expressed as the ratio
of the shearing stress to the velocity gradient . The coefficient of viscosity of liquids
decreases as temperature increases because the bonds between molecules are weakened.
Stoke’s Law cannot be applied to objects in turbulent flow because Stoke’s law is about
the viscosity of fluids and the resultant friction with an object, usually defined as a
sphere, in smooth relative motion . The passage of a sphere falling freely through a still
fluid and a sphere being carried in smooth flow are analogous and can be treated in the
same predictable fashion. Turbulent flow is, by definition, chaotic, potentially involving
bubbles, which will immediately change effective viscosity and irrespective, involving
instantaneous, very localized changes in density and flow direction.

Conclusion:
It can be concluded that

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Reflection:
Viscosity is used in many industries such as in the food industry to maximize production
efficiency and cost effectiveness. It affects the rate at which a product travels through a
pipe, how long it takes to set or dry, and the time it takes to dispense the fluid into
packaging. The production process has to be designed with the viscosity of the product in
mind, making sure that pipes are angled to optimize flow, or that dispensers provide the
right amount of force to induce flow, but not so much that the packaging will overfill.
Additionally, viscosity is also used other industries such as in the production of
Petroleum Viscosity measurements project the effectiveness of lubricating oil and
determines design elements of pipelines and as well as in Concrete production
Viscosity determines the self-leveling and pumping behavior of a mix.

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