83

Experiment setup Ι. Terminal velocity(VT ) of a rising bubble

2012 Problem 16: Rising Bubble

2012 Problem 16 : Rising Bubble

The main purpose of the setup is to produce a single
In this part of the experiment we use an
bubble at a time and let it rise through the tube and
acrylic tube having the inner diameter = 1.45cm
Motion and shape of a rising bubble in a tube observe it. The function of the funnel is to control the
and only vary the bubble size. We choose the
height of the liquid to fix the pressure. The syringe on
bubble length l to represent bubble size [Fig. 1].
the right is used to produce bubbles and the one on the
The bubble length refers to the distance from
Abstract left is for liquid refilling.
the top to the bottom of the bubble. Figure 2

A bubble rising in a tube reaches the terminal velocity

very quickly due to the viscous drag of the surrounding
liquid. Because of the no-slip boundary condition of the fluid at the
Experimental section:
shows three typical examples of bubble rising
in the tube filled with water. The three sizes
1.Vertical motion of a rising bubble can represent bubbles whose length is smaller
tube wall, the presence of the tube typically increases the drag and than, approximately to, and bigger than the tube
therefore, decreases the terminal velocity. The balance between the diameter.
buoyance force and the drag determines the magnitude of the terminal
velocity. Bigger bubble size leads to greater buoyance force, yet the
drag becomes bigger, too. The tube effect on the bubble drops as the
tube radius increases. Liquid viscosity directly influences the drag
and thus it would change the terminal velocity. We observed that the
tube material could affect the terminal velocity, too. When the Re is
sufficiently large and the bubble size is much smaller than the tube
diameter, the bubbles rise in a zigzag fashion and in the high Reynolds
number regime, the bubble turns to a non-circular shape. [Fig.3]Bubbles of different sizes rising in a tube. The bubble lengths are
0.23cm, 0.97cm and 2.00cm from left to right, respectively. The diameter of
Tsung - S h e ng H uang [Fig.1] A rising bubble in a tube the tube is 1.45cm. The liquid in the tube is water and the tube material is
acrylic.
Kaohsiung senior high school,No.50, Introduction
Jianguo 3rd Rd., Sanmin District,
Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan (R.O.C.) The physics of a rising bubble has been studied for a long time. In 30
Bubble length=0.23cm
Bubble length=0.97cm
National Taiwan University, Department the low Reynolds number regime, a rising bubble can be considered Funnel
25 Bubble length=2cm
of Physics, Taipei, TaiwanNo. 1, Sec.

Vertical displacement (cm)

4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617 as a solid sphere and the viscous drag can be understood using the
20
Taiwan(R.O.C)
SOLUTIONS OF IYPT PROBLEMS

famous Stokes’ formula [Ref.6]. In the high Reynolds number regime,

15
the Stokes’ formula is not a good approximation. The drag equation
Jung - Re n - H uang
National Taiwan Normal attributed to Lord Rayleigh describes the phenomena more properly 10

University,Department of Physics, 88, Sec.4, [Ref.7]. Moreover, as the bubble rises, its shape deforms and the air- 5
Ting-Chou Rd., Taipei 116, Taiwan, Taipei,
Taiwan liquid interface permits slip, meaning that this is a difficult free- Tube 0
0.0 0.20 .4 0.60 .8 1.01 .2 1.41 .8 1.8
boundary problem in fluid dynamics. Last but not least, when the
Times (s)
bubble rise in a tube filled with liquid, the no-slip boundary condition [Fig.4] Bubbles rising in a tube with constant vertical velocity. Time=0(s)
Syringes refers to the moment that the bubble was released. The bubble lengths
at the tube wall typically leads to higher drag, which is the focus of are 0.23cm (black), 0.97cm (red) and 2.00cm (blue). The tube diameter is
Three-way valve 1.45cm. The liquid in the tube is water and the tube material is acrylic. The
this paper. terminal velocities are 17cm/s, 9cm/s, 10cm/s for black, red and blue points
respectively.
[Fig.2] Experiment setup

82
 20 400 30 85
20
18 350
18 n=3

2012 Problem 16 : Rising Bubble

25
16 n=4
16 300
n=5
14
Terminal velocity (cm/s)
14 20

(Terminal velocity)2
250

VT (cm/s)
12
12

VT (cm/s)
10 200 15
10

8
Glass tube Acrylic tube
8 150
10
6 6
100 n=3
4 4 n=4
5
50 n=5
2 2

0 0 0 0
0.0 0.51 .0 1.52 .0 2.53 .0 3.5 0.0 0.10 .2 0.30 .4 0.50 .6 0.70 .8 0.9 3.0 0.0 0.51 .0 1.52 .0 2.53 .0 3.54 .0
0.0 0.5 1.01 .5 2.02 .5 3.54 .0

Bubble length/Tube diameter r Tube diameter (cm) Tube diameter (cm)

3 2 3 [Fig.7]Effect of tube size on VT. The liquid in the tube is water.The tube [Fig.8] The effect of tube size on VT for the bubbles having the same size.
[Fig.5]Effect of r on VT in three regimes.The diameter of tube is 1.45cm. The [Fig.6] The result of [eq.4], ρ=1000 kɡ/m ,Re=(10 ,10 ),Rt=0.725cm. The
liquid in the tube is water and the tube material is acrylic. The Reynolds graph shows that [eq.4] is a good approximation in the range where n=3 to material is acrylic for the black squares and the formula of the fitting line The length of the bubble is about 0.80cm. The liquid in the tube is water and
number of the bubbles are between 100 and 1500. n=5. is: VT2=128(Dt-0.85) with VT in the unit of cm/s and Dt in the unit of cm; The the tube material is acrylic. The black squares are the experiment data. The
tube material is glass for the red squares and the formula of the fitting line lines are the fitting curves for [eq.4] changing the tube diameter. ρ=1000
3 2 3
is: VT2=160(Dt-0.65) with VT in the unit of cm/s and Dt in the unit of cm kg/m ,Re=(10 ,10 ),R b =0.4cm. The graph shows that [eq.4] is a good
approximation in the range where n=3 to n=5.

Figure 4 shows the vertical motion of the three buoyancy FB is equal to the drag force FD , derive VT. Because the Reynolds number of the
3
bubbles. The vertical displacement is linear in where bubble is about 10 ; We hypothesize
8gRb R − Rb n
time, meaning that the bubbles reach the terminal 4 VT = ( t ) [eq 4] FD
FB ≈ πρgRb3 [eq 1] 24 4 Rt = kµVT2 [eq 6]
3( + 0.33 ) 2πRt l
velocity Vt almost immediately after release. 3 Re Re
1 [eq 2] Combining eqs. 5 and 6 and given that
FD = C DρπRb2VT2
П. The effect of the tube size on VT 2
Rb =Rt for Taylor bubbles, we derive
where ρ is the density of liquid, ɡ is
In order to characterize the effect of the B. Big bubble regime
the gravitation constant, and C D is the
tube, we scale the bubble length (l) with the tube ρgRt
coefficient of drag. The regime is a combination of small- VT = [eq 7]
diameter (D ), i.e., let r =
t . Figure 5 shows the 2kµ
bubble regime and Taylor-bubble regime.
r-dependence of Vt for a given tube diameter. Equation 1 is the result of Archimedes
Both sphere and cylinder are not proper
law, which means that the buoyance force
The result of this figure suggests that the approximation for the bubble shape in
equals the liquid weight excluded. Equation Equation 7 shows that in Taylor bubble
phenomena of bubble r isi ng i n a t ube ca n this regime. Therefore, neither [eq.1] nor
2 is the semi-empirical formula of the drag regime,VT is independent of length of
be divided into three regimes: (a) the small- [eq.5] (see below) can describe FB in this
when the Reynolds number is much bigger bubble, and thus it is independent of r.
bubble regime(0 ≤ r ≤ 0.6) where Vt decreases regime.
than 1.
as r increases, (b) the big-bubble regime (0.6 ≤ Ш. Effect of the tube diameter on VT
C. Taylor-bubble regime
SOLUTIONS OF IYPT PROBLEMS

r ≤ 1) where Vt increases slowly with r, and (c) Reference 3 gives the functional form
A. Taylor bubbles (In this part of experiment,
the Taylor-bubble regime ( r ≥ 1) where Vt is of C D for a solid spherical object in a When the bubble reaches its VT, The
the bubbles are all Taylor bubbles.)
independent of r. The original definition of Taylor cylindrical tube. For the sake of simplicity, buoyance FB is equal to the drag force
bubble can be found in [Ref.4]. we treat the bubble as a solid sphere and use FD, where FB -FD =0 . The bubble in this Ref. 4 suggests that VT of a Taylor
the following empirical formula generalized regime is approximately a cylinder. the bubbleis approximately in proportion
A.Small-bubble regime :
from the CD of Ref.3: Archimedes law yields to the square root of the tube diameter.
For the sake of simplicity, we treat the 24 4 Rt However, [Fig.7] shows that there is an
CD = ( + )( ) nfor Re <1. [eq 3] FB ≈ ρgπlRb2 [eq 5]
bubbles in this regime as spheres. As the Re Re0.33 Rt − Rb offset and that different materials yield
Rt
bubble length increases, the buoyance force
n
The term ( R − R ) shows the fact that We expect that the shear stress is in different offsets. We think that the wetting
t b
also increases. However, the drag rises, while Rb→Rt , the drag becomes very large. proportion to the coefficient of viscosity property of the tube surface is the main
too. When the bubble reaches its Vt , The and depends on the f low velocity, say, cause.
84 Combining[eq.1], [eq.2] and [eq.3], we
 87

Same size bubbles (In this part of parameter that affects the VT of a Taylor bubble. The subsequent part investigates the effect of cause periodic pressure difference and thus leads to the

2012 Problem 16 : Rising Bubble

experiment, the bubbles have the same size.) Thus VT in [eq.7] : viscosity on VT of a rising bubble, where equation zigzag motion. Larger Re means the liquid flow around
bubble is more turbulent; thus, greater Re leads to more
B . S a m e s i z e b u b bl e s ( I n t h i s p a r t of ρgRt
ρgRt 7. ( VT = ) provides an explanation for the prominent zigzag motion.
VT = 2kµ
experiment, the bubbles have the same size.) 2kµ
result.
3. Shape of a rising bubble
Equation 4. suggests that greater R t
D e n sit y of g lyce rol a nd si l ic on oi l a r e
leads to larger VT, as shown in [fig.8.] This part investigates the shape of bubble, as shown
respectively 1.03( ɡ ⁄cm ) and 0.96( ɡ ⁄cm ). The
3 3
V. Effect of tube wall property on VT of a Taylor
in [Fig.12].
IV. Effect of liquid viscosity on VT ratio (µVT2 / ρ) glycerol / (µVT2 / ρ)siliconoil is bigger than bubble
The observation indicates if the Reynolds number
The first part checks the influence of the liquid 0.9, which shows that the constant k in equation 6
[Fig.11] shows that the bubble in glass tube
is larger, then the bubble will be more non-spherical.
property on VT of a rising bubble besides viscosity. is independent of liquid property. moves faster. The qualitative explanation is that
We think that the wake behind the bubble pushes the
due to the difference in the surface quality of the
The result shows that viscosity is the main bubble and deforms it, just as [Fig.14] shows.
tube wall, the liquid layer between the glass tube
and the bubble surface is thicker and this leads to
Conclusion
10 less drag.
Slopeglycerol=1.39
A bubble rising in a tube reaches its terminal
2. Horizontal motion of a rising bubble velocity VT quickly. The terminal velocity is influenced
Vertical displacement (cm)

by the bubble size, the tube size, the viscosity of liquid,

VT (cm/s)

6
Observation from the above of the tube leads to the
and the tube material. When Re is small, there is
4 discovery of the oscillatory horizontal motion, which
vertical motion only. When Re>1, the bubble undergoes
Slopesilicon oil=1.37 is referred to as “the zigzag motion” in the references
2
a zigzag motion in the horizontal motion and the degree
Glycerol
Silicon oil
[Ref.5].
0 of the motion is related to Reynolds number. The shape
0.0 0.51 .0 1.5 2.02 .5 3.0 0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.16

Time (s) -1/2

In fact, according to our observation, bubbles with of a rising bubble depends on Reynolds number. Only
(Viscosity(cP))

[Fig.9] Influence of liquid property with fixed viscosity on VT of a rising bubble. [Fig.10] Effect of liquid viscosity on VT of a Taylor bubble. The diameter of tube smaller Reynolds number have more prominent zigzag when Re<<1, the bubble shape becomes more spherical.
The liquids are glycerol (μ≈945cP in 25̊ C) and silicon oil(μ≈1000cP in 25̊ C) for is 1.45cm. The tube material is acrylic. The liquid in the tube is silicon oil The
the black line and red line, respectively. The bubbles are Taylor bubbles. The formula of fitting line is VT=70μ-0.5, where viscosity is in cP and Vt is in cm/s. motion. We think that the vortices behind the bubbles
diameter of tube is 1.45cm. The tube material is acrylic.
SOLUTIONS OF IYPT PROBLEMS

14
16

12
14
Vertical displacement (cm)

Vertical displacement (cm)

10 12

8 10

8
6

6
4
4
2
Glass
2
Arcrylic
0 0
0.0 0.20 .4 0.60 .8 1.01 .2 1.41 .6 1.82 .0 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.00 .2 0.40 .6
Time (s) Horizontal position (cm)

[Fig.11]Effect of tube wall property on VT of a Taylor bubble. The tube diameter [Fig.12] Relation between the vertical and horizontal displacement of a [Fig.13]bubble shapes at different Re, the tube diameter is 1.45cm, the tube [Fig.14] A diagram that shows the wake behind a bubble. [Ref.1] shows that
is 1.45cm. The liquid in the tube is water. bubblev material is acrylic. The liquid in the tube is glycerol, water and water from the bubble becomes non-spherical when Re>1.
left to right, respectively.
86
 Acknowledgements [3] “Hydrodynamics forces” , Clarkson university

National Taiwan University, Department of Physics

[4] “The mechanics of large bubbles rising through extended

Far Easter n Y.Z.Hsu Science and Tech nolog y liquids and through liquids in tubes.” ,R. M. Davies and

Memorial Foundation Geoffrey Taylor.

Reference [5] “3-dimensional liquid motion around a zigzagging

ascent bubble measured using tomographic Stereo PIV”

[1] “Bubbles , Drops and particles” R. Cliff , J.R. Grace and
, Kenjo Yoshimoto and Takayuki Saito
M.E. Weber
[6] “Fluid Mechanics: Stokes’ Law and Viscosity” Scott A.
[2] “Ellipsoidal model of the rise of a Taylor bubble in a
Shearer, Jeremy R. Hudson
round tube” T. Funada , D.D. Joseph b,*, T. Maehara , S.

Yamashita [7] “fluid forces on bodies” a. h. techet & m.s. triantafyllou

SOLUTIONS OF IYPT PROBLEMS

88