The document summarizes an experiment to determine the viscosity of different motor oils using the falling sphere method. Three types of motor oils were tested - 10W-30, 5W-30, and 20W-50. The viscosity was calculated using the time taken for a steel sphere to fall a fixed distance in each oil. The 20W-50 oil had the highest viscosity of 0.601 kgm-1s-1, followed by 5W-30 at 0.506 kgm-1s-1, with 10W-30 having the lowest viscosity of 0.266 kgm-1s-1. Sources of error and ways to improve accuracy are also discussed.
The document summarizes an experiment to determine the viscosity of different motor oils using the falling sphere method. Three types of motor oils were tested - 10W-30, 5W-30, and 20W-50. The viscosity was calculated using the time taken for a steel sphere to fall a fixed distance in each oil. The 20W-50 oil had the highest viscosity of 0.601 kgm-1s-1, followed by 5W-30 at 0.506 kgm-1s-1, with 10W-30 having the lowest viscosity of 0.266 kgm-1s-1. Sources of error and ways to improve accuracy are also discussed.
The document summarizes an experiment to determine the viscosity of different motor oils using the falling sphere method. Three types of motor oils were tested - 10W-30, 5W-30, and 20W-50. The viscosity was calculated using the time taken for a steel sphere to fall a fixed distance in each oil. The 20W-50 oil had the highest viscosity of 0.601 kgm-1s-1, followed by 5W-30 at 0.506 kgm-1s-1, with 10W-30 having the lowest viscosity of 0.266 kgm-1s-1. Sources of error and ways to improve accuracy are also discussed.
The document summarizes an experiment to determine the viscosity of different motor oils using the falling sphere method. Three types of motor oils were tested - 10W-30, 5W-30, and 20W-50. The viscosity was calculated using the time taken for a steel sphere to fall a fixed distance in each oil. The 20W-50 oil had the highest viscosity of 0.601 kgm-1s-1, followed by 5W-30 at 0.506 kgm-1s-1, with 10W-30 having the lowest viscosity of 0.266 kgm-1s-1. Sources of error and ways to improve accuracy are also discussed.
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FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING
Course Title:
General Chemistry Laboratory
Course Title:
CHY2022
Lab # 4
Determination of viscosity of motor oils by the falling sphere method
Lecturer’s Name:
Mr. Zeyar Minn
Name : Myeisha Williams ID # : 1903012
Demar King ID # : 1504262
Tuesday Session 6pm to 9pm
Aim:
To determine the viscosity of motor oils using the falling sphere method.
Procedure:
The diameter of the sphere and the cylinder were measured. The total height of the 10W – 30 motor oil from the base was measured and recorded. The distance of the sphere that traversed between the two points was measured and the value obtained was recorded. After this, the temperature of the motor oil was measured, and the value was also recorded. At this point, trial one is ready to begin. The sphere was put perpendicular to the surface and the sphere was released. The time take for the sphere to travel from the top marked interval to the lower marked interval was recorded. Ten (10) values for the time taken was recorded. Repeat the steps using other types of motor oil in different glass cylinders.
Data Collection and results:
Table 1: Data Collected from 10 W – 30 motor oil
Mass of Sphere (g) 5.1653
Diameter of sphere (mm) 21.52 Diameter of cylinder (mm) 76.63 Height of Liquid (cm) 41.3 Distance between A&B (cm) 29.5 Temperature (C) 27.4 Average Time 3.46 Mass of 10 ml of fluid (g) 8.2562 Volume of sphere = 4/3 π r3 =4/3*π*10.7603 = 5218.933 mm3 = 5.219 cm3
Density of sphere = mass/volume = 5.1653/5.219 = 0.989 g/cm 3 = 989.0 kg/m3
Density of liquid = mass/ volume = 8.2562/10 = 0.8256 g/cm 3 = 825.6 kg/m3
Diameter of sphere (mm) 21.75 Diameter of cylinder (mm) 76.65 Height of Liquid (cm) 42.9 Distance between A&B (cm) 25.5 Temperature (C) 27.2 Average Time 3.644 Mass of 10 ml of fluid (g) 8.0107
Mass of Sphere (g) 5.1359 Diameter of sphere (mm) 21.91 Diameter of cylinder (mm) 76.62 Height of Liquid (cm) 41.3 Distance between A&B (cm) 34.5 Temperature (C) 270.0 Average Time 15.21 Mass of 10 ml of fluid (g) 8.2655
Rank the brands motor oils in terms of increasing viscosity.
10 W – 30 motor oil has the least viscosity,
5W – 30 motor oil has more viscosity than 10 W – 30 20 W – 50 has the most viscosity of the three
Outline the significance and importance of motor oils viscosity.
Viscosity is the most important property of oil when it comes to engines. Viscosity determines how a lubricated engine will react to speed, pressure, and temperature. Motor oils that have low viscosity are unable to fill the gaps between engine components to prevent metal to metal contact because the oil is too thin. As the temperature increases with a low viscosity oil, the engine is unable to prevent the metal-to-metal contact. As a result, it cannot protect the engine for a long period of time. However, high viscosity oils that are very thick is very difficult to circulate around the engine. In cooler temperatures, the oil is not able to transfer heat between engine components as easily as low viscosity oils can. High viscosity oils can cause battery strains, internal operating temperatures or even prevent vehicles from starting. Therefore, the viscosity of the oils depends on the temperature and to preserve the durability of the vehicle, one must take the viscosity of motor oils into consideration.
Highlight three (3) Major sources of error in this experiment.
1) when the sphere was released above the surface of the liquid which resulted in added external force to the sphere, thereby forcing the sphere to go faster.
2) The timer did not start and stop exactly as the sphere reached each marked distance which resulted in the uncertainty in the measurement of the times taken and the reaction time being off by approximately one second.
3) The forces on the walls of the glass cylinder from the motor oil can disturb the movement of the sphere as it travels down in the motor oil which can reduce the speed of the sphere.
List three ways in which the accuracy of your results could be improved.
1) The experiment can be improved by releasing the sphere below the surface of the liquid which would ensure that there are no added external forces acting on the sphere.
2) Increasing the number of trials taken can reduce the errors due to the reaction time of the timer in the experiment.
3) The experiment can be improved by using a glass cylinder which is wider and longer to ensure that the forces of the walls of the glass cylinder is very minimum and will have the least disturbance as possible.
