WEEK FIVE ( LESSON 1)
Topic : Fluids at Rest and in Motion
Sub- Topic: Surface Tension
Lesson Topic: Effects and application of surface tension
Surface Tension:
Is the property of a liquid to make its surface behave as though it is covered by an elastic skin
Is the force per unit length. Y= F/2L
Is the force acting parallel to the surface of the liquid
Effects of Surface Tension
Soap bubbles are spherical in shape
Water stakers are able to walk on the surface of water
Razor blade or needle gently placed on the surface of water floats
Spilled mercury on glass surface form spherical droplets
Application of surface tension
use in the manufacturing of rain proof or water proof
absorption of ink with blotting paper
rising of oil in lamp wicks
movement of melted wax into the neck of a burning candle
Reduction of surface tension
adding impurities such as detergent/soap, alcohol, oil, camphor, kerosene, grease
CAPILLARITY
Capillarity is defined as the tendency of liquids to rise or fall in narrow capillary tubes.
Cohesive force is the force of attraction between molecules of the same substance
oAdhesive force is the force of attraction between molecules of different substance or it refers to the
force which makes molecules of different substance to attract.
Common examples of capillary action
1. When you light a candle, the wax melts and rises up the candle wax rises up the wick of a
candle or kerosene rises up the wick of a lamp, there are many others.
2. Blotting paper which is used to soak ink has many fine pores between the fibres it
contains. These fine pores act like capillary tube through which the ink is soaked up i.e ink
held on the nib of a pen or why a blotting paper absorbs ink.
3. Water rises up the stem of plants by capillary action.
4. A tower soaks the water on our body by capillary action.
Application of Capillarity
Adhesion of water to glass is stronger than the cohesion of water, hence, when water is spilled on a
clean glass surface, it wets the glass. The cohesion of mercury is greater than its adhesion to glass,
hence, mercury spilled 0n glass forms small spherical droplets.
WEEK FIVE (LESSON 2)
Topic: Fluid At Rest And I n Motion
Lesson Topic: Viscosity
MEANING OF VISCOSITY
Viscosity is the internal friction which exists between layers of the molecules of a
fluid (liquid or gas) in motion. The viscosity of a fluid can also be defined as the
measure of how resistive the fluid is to flow. It is a vector quantity & measured in
pascal-seconds(pa.s). It can be defined mathematically as the ratio of the shearing
stress to the velocity gradient in a fluid
Viscosity (ŋ) = Force
Area x Velocity gradient ……………………………………….1.
Velocity gradient nt = velocity
Length …………………………………………………2
W=U+ V
W – U- V = 0 ……………………………………………………………3.
V = W – U (apparent or effective weight) where V-viscous force, W- weight, U-
upthrust
NB : Substances with low viscosity include water, kerosene, petrol, ethanol. Those
with high viscosity are glue, syrup, grease, glycerine etc
Experiment to Determine the Terminal Velocity of a Steel Ball Falling Through a
Fluid
Aim: To determine the terminal velocity of a steel ball falling in through a jar of
glycerin
Apparatus: steel ball, cylindrical calibrated jar, glycerine
Diagram:
Procedure: Set-up the apparatus as shown above & gently drop the steel ball in the
jar of glycerin
Observation: It will be observed that the ball is accelerating in the liquid. Also the
time taken for the ball to move from A-B will be different from B-C and so on. A time
will be reached when the ball will be moving at a constant speed or velocity. It is
that point that terminal velocity is experience.
Graph :
Conclusion: Terminal velocity is attained when W = V + U. At a point when the ball
is moving at a constant speed through the glycerine.
Precaution: 1. The steel ball should be dropped gently on the liquid 2. Experiment
should be done under constant temperature 3. Avoid error of measurement when
taken the reading.
NB: Terminal velocity is the maximum velocity of an object when the viscous force
due to motion of the object equals the apparent (effective) weight of the object in
the fluid where there is no longer net force on the object.
Drag force is the force that keeps the object continuously moving after the terminal
velocity has been attained.
Stokes’ Law state that at the terminal velocity, the upward frictional force (F) = 6Π
ŋrV
Where F- Frictional/Drag force, ŋ- viscosity, r- radius of sphere, Vt- Terminal
velocity
Factors Affecting Viscosity
Viscosity varies with material (viscosity is a property of material)
The viscosity of simple liquids
(a) decreases with increasing temperature
(b) increases under very high pressure
The viscosity of gases (a) increases with increasing temperature (b) is independent
of pressure & density
Effect of Viscosity
1. Viscosity is responsible for different rate of fluid flow.
2. Viscosity affect motion of body in fluid.
Application of Viscosity
1. It is use as a lubricant.
2. The knowledge of viscous drag/drag force is applied in the design of ship
& aircraft.
3. Use to estimate the enlarge size of particles.
