EXPERIMENT REPORT NO.

2 | DETERMINATION OF FLUID VISCOSITY

I. SUMMARY OF PROCEDURE 

The weight and diameter of the spherical ball were measured using a digital balance
and a vernier caliper, respectively. A top and bottom mark were placed at the side of the
falling sphere apparatus, and the distance between the two markings was measured using a
measuring tape. In the apparatus containing water, the ball was dropped in the apparatus,
and the time it took for the ball to reach from the top mark to the bottom mark was
recorded. The ball was retrieved by opening and closing two separate valves. A tray was
placed at the bottom of the apparatus to catch a small amount of water along with the
spherical ball. The process was repeated three times in the individual set-ups containing
water, glycerin, and oil.

II. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Diameter Mass Temperatur Liquid Trial Distanc Time Velocity Viscosity

of the of e No. e AB of m/s (Ns/m2)
sphere Sphere (℃) (m) Travel
(m) (g) (sec)

0.013 3.2 27.2 Water 1 0.78 1.1 0.709 0.232

0.013 3.2 27.2 2 0.78 1.2 0.650 0.253

0.013 3.2 27.2 3 0.78 1.2 0.650 0.253

0.013 3.2 27.0 Motor Oil 1 0.77 2.8 0.275 0.639

0.013 3.2 27.0 2 0.77 2.8 0.275 0.639

0.013 3.2 27.0 3 0.77 2.9 0.266 0.662

0.013 3.2 27.5 Glycerin 1 0.78 1.3 0.600 0.234

0.013 3.2 27.5 2 0.78 1.2 0.650 0.216

0.013 3.2 27.5 3 0.78 1.4 0.557 0.252

 In this experiment, a falling sphere apparatus was used to determine the viscosity of
each of the different liquids. The data collected was used to evaluate whether the
experimental set-up illustrates Stokes’ Law. In theory, the velocity of the falling sphere is
dependent on the viscosity of the liquid sample. Initially accelerating due to gravity, the
buoyant force and drag force then counteracts the weight, until the net force becomes zero
and the sphere reaches terminal velocity. The velocity was determined by dividing the
distance travelled by the sphere, from point A to B, by the time it took to traverse it. Using
2 R2
the equation μ= (γ s−γ L ) the viscosity was calculated. 
9V

From the data above, it can be observed that the sphere falls the fastest in water with
an average velocity of 0.670 m/s, followed by the sphere in glycerin with an average
velocity of 0.602 m/s, and slowest in motor oil with 0.272 m/s. It should follow that water,
among the three liquids, has the least viscosity, providing little resistance to the falling
sphere. However, it was noted from the data that glycerin has the least viscosity with an
average of 0.234 N ∙ s /m2, followed by water with 0.246 N ∙ s /m2, then motor oil with 0.647
2
N ∙ s /m average viscosity. A possible reason for this could be attributed to the temperature
of the liquids when the experiment was performed: the water sample was at 27.2°C, while
glycerin was slightly higher at 27.5°C. Although the difference is not quite notable, it can
be recalled that liquid viscosity is highly affected by heat, and viscosity decreases with
increasing temperature. 

The results show the relationship between the terminal velocity of the sphere and the
liquid viscosity. The greater the liquid viscosity is, the more resistance it has to shear
stress and the more force it applies to counter the weight of the falling sphere, therefore
decreasing the velocity.