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In this experiment, the students measured the viscosity of glycerine using a falling ball viscometer. They calculated the terminal velocity of a brass sphere falling through glycerine over multiple trials. They then used the terminal velocity and other parameter values in equations based on Newton's laws of motion to calculate the Reynolds number and viscosity of glycerine. The students determined the viscosity was 0.67393 Pa∙s with 29% error compared to the actual viscosity of glycerine, which is 0.95 Pa∙s. Sources of error included temperature fluctuations and instrument precision.

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Parveen Lather
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175 views

Lab Report

In this experiment, the students measured the viscosity of glycerine using a falling ball viscometer. They calculated the terminal velocity of a brass sphere falling through glycerine over multiple trials. They then used the terminal velocity and other parameter values in equations based on Newton's laws of motion to calculate the Reynolds number and viscosity of glycerine. The students determined the viscosity was 0.67393 Pa∙s with 29% error compared to the actual viscosity of glycerine, which is 0.95 Pa∙s. Sources of error included temperature fluctuations and instrument precision.

Uploaded by

Parveen Lather
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lab # ChE 351: Junior Laboratory:

Falling ball (Viscometer)


Name of the lab Partners:
Date: 04-9-2019
Abstract
Properties of fluid becomes important for major experimental analysis thus it is vital to measure
the properties of the fluid. Measurement of viscosity of fluid is important to understand for
several research work and experiments. We have measured viscosity of glycerine with the help
of falling ball viscometer. It works on the principle that a falling ball in the fluid under the
influence of gravity accelerates with the final velocity, known as terminal velocity. We had
calculated terminal velocity for several trail, thus calculating mean terminal velocity which
later on used to calculate the Reynolds number at terminal velocity which gives value of
viscosity of glycerine. We had calculated error also which is in the reasonable amount. We had
found out the viscosity of the glycerine 0.67393 Pa. sec.

Introduction
In this experiment of “Falling ball Viscometer” we had used glycerine as a fluid, and brass
sphere. Our objective was to experimentally calculate the value of viscosity of glycerine.
Falling ball viscometer basically uses basic principle of laws of motion provided by Newton.
It uses force balance to eventually find out the viscosity of the fluid. In order for force balance
we need to know the free body diagram of the falling ball in the fluid, which is shown in
figure:1in the appendix. We must understand the dynamics of the motion of the sphere in the
fluid and how it accelerates and attains the terminal velocity.

Calculation
4 × (8.73 − 1.26) × 0.47625 × 10−2 × 9.81
𝐶𝐷 = = 69.3022
3 1.26 × (0.073)2
From the plot given we have-
𝑅𝑒𝑡 = 0.65
To calculate viscosity, use the following formula
0.47625 × 10−2 × 1260 × 0.073
0.65 =
𝜇
𝜇 = 0.67393 Pa. sec
Actual viscosity of glycerine is 0.95 Pa. sec.
0.95 − 0.67393
𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = × 100 = 29%
0.95
Methods and Materials (or Equipment)
We have falling ball viscometer in which we had glycerine as a fluid and sphere of the material
brass.

Experimental procedure
We need to go through following steps chronologically-
1. Fill the tube with glycerine and put the brass sphere cautiously and fill again more
glycerine in order to get rid of the air bubble from the tube.
2. Turn the falling tube 180 degree. Start stop watch when the ball reaches to the first
marks on the tube, and measure the time between the two marks. It is better to repeat
the experiment at least 10 times for same temperature.
3. Wait for some time (approx. 15-20 min) to ensure the temperature stability of the fluid.
4. At the end of the experiment clean the tube carefully and remove the brass sphere
cautiously.
5. Write down the density of the fluid and sphere as well as diameter of the sphere.
6. Calculate the terminal velocity and then eventually viscosity

Results
Viscosity of the fluid was found to be 0.67393 Pa. sec. This value might have been affected by
surrounding temperature and precision of the instrument. Considering all this factor error
comes out to be 29 %. It can be reduced by precluding the factors affecting the steady condition
during the experiment.

Discussion
Let us first discuss the principle of the falling ball viscometer. It works on the principle of the
Newton’s second law of motion. Derivation of the formula used is discussed as follows-

𝑊 = 𝜌𝑠 𝑉𝑠 𝑔
𝐹𝑏 = 𝜌𝑓 𝑉𝑙 𝑔
1
𝐹𝑑 = 𝐶 𝜌 𝑣 2𝐴
2 𝐷 𝑓 𝑇
From FBD, we have force balance by Newton’s second law of motion-
𝐹𝑏 + 𝐹𝑑 − 𝑊 = 0
4 4 1
𝜌𝑠 𝜋𝑟 3 𝑔 − 𝜌𝑓 𝜋𝑟 3 𝑔 = 𝐶𝐷 𝜌𝑓 𝑣𝑇 2 4𝜋𝑟 2
3 3 2
4 (𝜌𝑠 − 𝜌𝑓 )𝐷𝑠 𝑔
𝐶𝐷 =
3 𝜌𝑓 𝑣𝑇 2

To calculate 𝑅𝑒𝑡 -
24 0.4601𝑅𝑒𝑡
𝐶𝐷 = + 3.3643𝑅𝑒𝑡 −0.3471 + 𝑅𝑒 < 2 × 105
𝑅𝑒𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑡 + 2682.5

𝐷𝑠 𝜌𝑓 𝑣𝑇
To calculate viscosity- 𝑅𝑒𝑇 = 𝜇

We can improve the result by taking the readings more precisely and maintaining the steady
temperature of the fluid. We had found out the value of the viscosity 0.67393 Pa. sec .we have
several limitations such as maintaining the physical condition throughout the experiment,
which puts limitation on the accuracy of the results.

Conclusion
This experiment was important for the purpose of learning the method to calculate viscosity if
the fluid. Viscosity had been found out from this experiment. Besides whole experiment was
wonderful journey towards handling precise instrument as well as collecting data which
eventually was used to calculate the viscosity.

Reference
1. Lab manual: junior laboratory- Falling ball Viscometer
2. Yuan, Ping, Ben-Yuan Lin, and Syu-Fang Liu. “Measurement of viscosity in a vertical
falling ball viscometer.” Am. Lab 40 (2008):18.
Appendices

Figure: 1
Data
𝒈
𝝆𝒇 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟔 ⁄ 𝟑
𝒄𝒎
𝒈
𝝆𝒃 = 𝟖. 𝟕𝟑 ⁄ 𝟑
𝒄𝒎
′′
𝑫𝒔 = 𝟑⁄𝟏𝟔 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟕𝟔𝟐𝟓 𝒄𝒎

𝒗𝑻 = 𝟕. 𝟑𝟎 𝒄𝒎⁄𝒔𝒆𝒄

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