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Experiment 3 Falling Velocity of Sphere

This experiment aims to determine the viscosity of a fluid by measuring the terminal velocity of spheres falling through the fluid using a falling sphere viscometer. The forces acting on a falling sphere are calculated and used to derive an equation relating viscosity to the sphere's diameter, density, and terminal velocity. The procedure involves measuring the time it takes spheres of different diameters to fall a set distance in various test fluids and using the results to calculate viscosity based on the derived equation.

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JANNA LORAINE MEDINA
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219 views

Experiment 3 Falling Velocity of Sphere

This experiment aims to determine the viscosity of a fluid by measuring the terminal velocity of spheres falling through the fluid using a falling sphere viscometer. The forces acting on a falling sphere are calculated and used to derive an equation relating viscosity to the sphere's diameter, density, and terminal velocity. The procedure involves measuring the time it takes spheres of different diameters to fall a set distance in various test fluids and using the results to calculate viscosity based on the derived equation.

Uploaded by

JANNA LORAINE MEDINA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiment No.

3
Fall Velocity of Sphere
Objective:
The activity aims to determine the viscosity of the fluid by measuring the fall velocity of the sphere
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
1. Use the techniques and skills in fluid mechanics to determine the viscosity of fluid using fall velocity
measurement
2. Apply the techniques and skills acquired relevant to professional engineering practice.
Discussion:

The Falling Sphere Viscometer

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 test. In this experiment, viscosity will
be measured with a 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 a sphere, for example, that is falling at terminal velocity through a liquid are:

Weight of Sphere – Buoyancy Force – Drag Force = 0

1 1
𝛾𝑠 6 𝜋𝐷 3 − 𝛾𝑓 6 𝜋𝐷 3 − 3𝜋µ𝑉𝐷 = 0 (4.1)

𝐷 2 (𝛾𝑠 − 𝛾𝑓 ) (4.2)
µ=
18𝑉

Where 𝜌𝑠 and 𝜌 are density of the sphere and liquid respectively, V is the sphere’s terminal velocity, D is
the diameter of the sphere and µ is the viscosity of the liquid. In solving the preceding equation, the viscosity of
the liquid can be determined. The above expression for drag is valid only if the following equation is valid:

𝜌𝑉𝐷
<1 (4.3)
µ

Where D is the sphere diameter. Once the viscosity of the liquid is found, the above ratio should be
calculated to be certain in that mathematical model gives an accurate description.
For the experimental setup, the radius of the cylindrical tube must be large enough so that the boundary
effects of the tube wall can be neglected. This will cause additional friction with the wall leading to lower values of
measured velocity. An empirical correction factor L, Ladenburg factor, must be used to correct the velocity of the
sphere given the formula:

𝑟
𝐿 = 1 + 2.1 𝑅 > 1 (4.4)

Where r is the radius of the sphere while R is the radius of the cylindrical tube. The equation for calculating
the viscosity with the correction factor will be.

𝐷 2 (𝛾𝑠 − 𝛾𝑓 )
µ= (4.5)
18𝑉𝐿

Resources/Instruments Required:
• Graduated cylinder
• Scale
• Stopwatch
• Several small spheres with weight and diameter to be measured
• Test liquid
• Caliper
• Ruler

Procedure:

1. Fill the graduated cylinder with fluid up to about 3 cm below the rim of the tube. Drop a sphere into the
cylinder liquid 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 kinematics viscosity of the liquid can be calculated.

Terminal velocity measurement (V = d/time)

3. The temperature of the test liquid should also be recorded. Use three different spheres where two trials
must be done for each sphere.
Course: Experiment No.:
Group No.: Section:
Name: Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Instructor:

Data and Results:

(Sphere)

Sphere Mass Unit Weight


Trial Volume (m3) Weight (N)
Diameter (m) (kg) γ (N/m3)
1
2
Average
1
2
Average
1
2
Average

(Oil)

Absolute Kinematic
Sphere Diameter Distance
Trial Time (s) L viscosity viscosity
(m) (m)
μ (Pa-s) Ѵ (m2/s)
1 0.015 0.185 0.42 0.004 0.3678 0.000414
2 0.019 0.185 0.33 0.010 0.6578 0.000723
3
4
5
6
Average
(Water)

Absolute Kinematic
Sphere Distance
Trial Time (s) L viscosity viscosity
Diameter (m) (m)
μ (Pa-s) Ѵ (m2/s)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Average

Computation:

Observation:

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