Report for Experiment #6

Fluid Flow

Hridaya Patel
Lab Partner: Mariella Todebush, Hope Morita
TA: Yunhao Zhu

27th March 2024

Abstract
In the first experiment, the time it took to fill a 50cc volume in a 100cc graduated cylinder with a
1.25mm inner diameter capillary linked to a big container was measured to investigate the
relationship between water flow rate (Q) and pressure differential. Four different pressure levels
were used to repeat this operation, and the displayed graph showed a linear connection between
flow rate and pressure.

Poiseuille's claim about the proportionality of the flow rate was examined in the following study.
The relationship's exponent (n) was determined by measuring the flow rates via four distinct
capillaries. After gathering the data, the diameters and flow rates (Q) were converted using their
logarithms. To examine the connection, these modified values were plotted against one another.

Introduction
Fluid Flow, Experiment #11, explores the fundamentals of fluid mechanics via the prism of
Poiseuille's equation. Two important points are explained by this equation: first, the pressure
differential (∆p = height2 – height1) and volume flow rate (V = t), which are directly correlated;
second, the resistance to flow and volume flow rate, which are inversely related. Equations I
through III summarise these relationships: R stands for resistance to flow, L for capillary length,
d for capillary diameter, and μ for fluid viscosity.
1
Q = ( ) ∗ Δ𝑝
𝑅

128𝜂𝐿
𝑅=
𝜋𝑑 4

𝜋𝑑 4
𝑄= ∗ ∆𝑝
128𝜂𝐿

In situations where there is laminar flow, equations I through III are appropriate. When analysing
the flow of water through a smooth pipe, the flow is considered "laminar" as long as the pressure
differential (∆p) is modest. In particular, the water flow has the most friction when it is closest to
the capillary walls, which causes it to travel more slowly. However, the flow velocity rises as the
flow gets farther away from the capillary walls. As a result, the capillary's centre experiences the
fastest flow rate. Laminar flow is the word used to describe this ordered motion, as seen in
Figure A.
Through the use of an adjustable apparatus to modify ∆p values and capillaries of varied sizes
clamped horizontally to maintain equal height throughout their length, Experiment 11 explores
the practical application of Poiseuille's Equation to laminar flow. The capillary's flexible tubing
is attached to one end and connected to a water reservoir that is placed a certain height above the
capillary clamp. When everything is connected in this configuration, water comes out of the
reservoir, travels through the capillary and tubing, and ends up in the graduated cylinder below.
Figure B provides an illustration of this device.

This experiment's first investigation looks at how pressure differentials affect fluid flow, more
especially volume flow rate, while the second investigation examines how capillary sizes affect
volume flow rate.
Investigation 1
The first experiment looked at the connection between a particular capillary's water flow rate (Q)
and pressure differential. A 1.25 mm inner diameter capillary was attached to a sizable container
that included a water drainage exit. The capillary was positioned horizontally at a fixed distance
below the container. By measuring the difference in height between the water levels, the pressure
differential was ascertained.

To release any trapped air bubbles, water was let to flow through the capillary prior to starting
the test. To keep the pressure constant, the huge container's water level was continuously topped
off while the water flowed. The amount of time needed for the water leaving the capillary to fill
50cc of a 100cc graduated cylinder was timed after all air bubbles had been released. To get an
average measurement, this procedure was repeated. Four different pressure conditions—roughly
equal to 15 cm, 14 cm, 17 cm, and 20 cm—were used for the operation. This

Graph of Water Flow Rate vs Pressure Difference:

The difference of about 0.8 cubic centimetres per second from the origin suggests that our
measurements may not have been as accurate as they might have been. This could be due to
improper maintenance of the pressure change in centimetres, which is represented by the formula
∆p = h2 - h1. Equation I shows that, as was said in the introduction, the volume flow rate
corresponds inversely with flow resistance and directly with changes in pressure. Pipe diameter,
length, and fluid viscosity—all of which were constant during the investigation—have an impact
on this resistance. As a result, we predict that the average volume flow rate and pressure change
will positively correlate. The linear trend and observed positive correlation shown in Figure 1.1
provide evidence for the validity of the connections defined by Poiseuille's law.

Investigation 2
Poiseuille's claim that flow rate and other variables are proportionately related was investigated
in the second study. This suggests that the exponent "n" in the equation must equal 4 in the case
of laminar flow. Exponent 'n' might be determined by measuring the flow rates via four distinct
capillaries in order to confirm this. The experimental setup was similar to the prior investigation,
except the capillary's diameter was changed rather than the height to change the pressure
differential.

The inner diameters of the three different capillaries that were utilised were 1.5 mm, 1.0 mm, and
0.5 mm, in that order. The time needed to fill 50 cc of a 100 cc graduated cylinder with a
pressure differential of around 20 cm was measured three times for the first three tubes in order
to get an average. Nevertheless, the pressure differential was raised to around 50 cm because of
the smallest capillary's (0.5mm) anticipated slow flow rate. In this instance, a smaller graduated
cylinder's 10cc fill time was measured. The results from this last capillary were then converted
appropriately and modified for comparability with the preceding three. After gathering data, the
diameter and flow rate (Q) logarithms were calculated.

Graph of Flow Rate vs Change in Diameter:

Error in slope : 0.856113

Measurements of the capillary tube:

Conclusion
The concepts of Poiseuille's law and its use in fluid mechanics were examined in Experiment
#11, Fluid Flow. According to Poiseuille's law, a liquid's volume flow rate is inversely
proportional to resistance and immediately relates to changes in pressure.
The goal of Investigation I was to look at the linear relationship between volume flow rate and
pressure change. In order to do this, the time required to collect a fixed volume in a graduated
cylinder under various pressure changes (∆p = h2 - h1) was measured across trials. One part of
Poiseuille's law was confirmed when the volume flow rate rose in tandem with the pressure
differential.
The second investigation looked at the linear relationship between the capillary diameter's
natural logarithm and the average volume flow rate's logarithm. This study used a reformulated
form of Poiseuille's law, in which the slope of the equation determines the value of 'n'. Using the
equation of its best-fit line and the previously discussed linear connection, a graphical analysis
was used to determine this slope.

Questions
Answer1)
The ratio of flow rates between a ½ inch and a 5/8-inch hose may be computed by taking the
fourth power of their respective diameters. The ⅝ inch hose's flow rate is roughly 2.44 times
higher than the ½ inch hose's, according to the flow rate ratio (Q1/Q2) for these hoses.

Answer2)
The flow rate (Q) through the capillary will drop if the fluid's viscosity increases because of the
increased flow resistance. However, since viscosity, pressure differential, and capillary
dimensions are the main elements influencing flow rate, doubling the fluid's density won't
directly affect how much fluid flows through the capillary. It increases by a factor of 2

Answer3)
Because of the higher flow resistance, a fluid with an elevated viscosity will have a lower flow
rate (Q) through the capillary. However, the flow rate is still unchanged by doubling the density
of the fluid because it is mostly dictated by variables like viscosity, pressure difference, and
capillary size. And it would be 0.0018
Answer4)
the ratio of pressure drops over the tube to the capillary is 0.0018

Answer5)
In this experiment, the capillary is positioned horizontally to guarantee that fluid flow through
the capillary is the primary source of the recorded pressure decrease across it, rather than
gravitational factors.When the capillary is positioned horizontally, gravitational forces on the
flow are reduced, allowing one to firmly ascribe any pressure decrease to the capillary's
resistance. With this configuration, the pressure drop may be measured with more accuracy,
facilitating a comprehensive evaluation of the capillary's dimensions, length, and fluid viscosity.

Honors section:

Answer3)
As long as the pressure differential (∆p = h2 – h1) is constant, the capillary tubing's orientation—
whether it takes a straight or an inverse U-shaped path—has no bearing on the investigation's
outcomes. The form of the tubing has little bearing on the experiment's results as long as fluid
flow is laminar, starts and stops at the same heights, etc.Furthermore, the theory behind how a
syphon works is that the air pressure in the upper liquid column is higher than the air pressure in
the lower column. This allows the syphon tube to help transport water between the two columns
to equalise the pressure.

Answer4)
When liquid flows through the tube, it is subject to pressure gradient and viscous forces. These
forces develop because the fluid flows in a way that equalises pressure throughout and resists
flow, which causes extra forces to act on the tube.

Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my lab partners and lab TA.

References
Physics: Principles with Applications, 7e by Douglas C Giancoli
Appendix A