Physical Properties of Food

1- Wheat flour is made by grinding the dry wheat grains. Particle size is an important characteristic in
many of the wheat products. For example, in making wafers, if the flour is too fine, light and tender
products are formed. On the other hand, incomplete sheets of unsatisfactory wafers are formed if the
flour is too coarse. Therefore, it is important to test the grinding performance of flour by sieve analysis
in wafer producing factories. Determine the volume surface mean diameter, mass mean diameter, and
volume mean diameter of wheat flour by differential analysis using the data given

in Table E.1.3.1.

Solution:

Mesh Quantity Mass Fraction

Retained D pi (D Pi) ^ 3
8/10 1.98 0.080 2.007 8.07
10/20 11.69 0.475 1.242 1.91
20/32 4.51 0.183 0.664 0.29
32/42 1.20 0.049 0.423 0.07
42/60 2.43 0.099 0.299 0.026
60/80 0.63 0.026 0.211 0.0092
80/100 0.69 0.028 0.161 0.00417
100/Pan 1.47 0.060 0.074 0.000389

2- The porosity of dried apples was measured using an air comparison pycnometer with

two identical chambers (Fig. 1.9). The dried apple sample was placed in chamber 2. Valves 2 and 3

were closed and air was supplied to chamber 1. Valve 1 was closed and pressure P 1 was read as 0.508

atm. Then, valve 2 was opened and the new equilibrium pressure, P 2 , was read as 0.309 atm. Calculate
the porosity of the dried apple.

Solution:

P1 = 0.508

P2= 0.309

P1V1 = P2V1 + P2Va2

= Va2 / V1 = (P1-P2)/P2

= (0.508-0.309)/ 0.309 = 0.644

....

3- Two parallel plates are 0.1 m apart. The bottom plate is stationary while the upper

one is moving with a velocity V (Fig E.2.2.1). The fluid between the plates is water, which has a

viscosity of 1 cp.

A-

- Two Parallel plates are : 0.1 m

- The Viscosity = 1CP = 1X10^-3 = 0.001 Pa. s
- The Velocity= 0.3 m/s

yx =

yx= -1X10^-3 X (0-0.3)/(1-0) = 3X10^-3 Pa. s

B- The Viscosity = 100 CP = 0.1 Pa. s

0.003 = -0.1 X (0-V)/(0.1-0)

V= 0.003

4- To determine the viscosity of sunflower oil, a falling ball viscometer was used.

Viscometer has a tube length of 10 cm and its ball has a diameter of 0.68 mm. Oil and the ball have

densities of 921 kg/m 3 and 2420 kg/m 3 , respectively. If it takes 44.5 s for the ball to fall from the top

of the tube, calculate the viscosity of the oil.

Length = 10 CM = 0.1

Diameter = 0.68 mm = 6X10^-4

2
Density of oil = 921 Kg/m
3
Density Of Ball = 2420 Kg/m

Time = 44.5 S

Vt = L/t = 0.1/44.5 = 0.0022 m/s

5- Cherry has a moisture content of 77.5% (wb). The apparent and bulk densities are

615 kg/m 3 and 511 kg/m 3 at 25C, respectively. Assuming cherry contains only carbohydrate and

water, calculate the total porosity of cherries when stacked as bulk. The densities of carbohydrate and

water are 1586 kg/m 3 and 997 kg/m 3 , respectively.

Moisture Content: 77.5% = 0.775

Solid Content = 22.5% = 0.225

T =

T = 1/ ( 0.775 / 997 ) + ( 0.225 / 1586 )

T= 1087.9 kg / m 3

app = = 1- 615/1087.9 = 0.434

bulk = = 1- 511 / 615 = 0.169

Total porosity =

Total = bulk + app

Total= 0.169 + 0.434 = 0.60

Rapeseeds are commonly used for volume measurement of baked goods. In a bakery,

first the bulk density of rapeseeds was determined by filling a container of 100 g weight and 1000 cm 3

volume uniformly with rapeseeds through tapping and smoothing the surface with a ruler. The weight

of the container filled with rapeseeds after constant weight was reached was 750 g.

Then, the volumes of the muffins were measured at different baking times using rapeseeds before

and after compressing the pores using a 1000 N load cell and the experimental data are given in Table

E.1.7.1. Calculate the porosity of muffins during baking. How does it change during baking? Explain

the reason.

Solution:

W Container = 100 g > 1000 Cm3

W Container + Seed = 750g

1- Seeds = W Seeds / W Container = 750 100 / 1000 = 0.65 Cm 3

in 10 min Before pressure

2- V Sample = V Container W Seeds / Seeds

= 1000 ( 731 34 100 ) / 0.65 = 81.53 Cm3

In 10 min after compression

V Sample = V Container W Seeds / Seeds

= 1000 ( 744-34-100 ) / 0.65 = 61.5 Cm 3

In 20 min Before compression

V Sample = V Container w Seed / Seeds

1000 ( 718 30 100 ) / 0.65 = 95.38 Cm 3

After compression

1000 ( 752 30 100 ) / 0.65 = 43.0 Cm3

app = 1- Vs / V app = 1- ( 43.0 / 95.38 ) = 0.54 Cm3

in 30 min

Before: 1000 (704 28 100 ) / 0.65 = 113.8 Cm3

After : 1000 ( 758 28 -100 ) / 0.65 = 30.7 Cm3

app = 1- Vs / V app = 1- (30.7 / 113.8 ) = 0.73 Cm 3