Determine the viscosity of water by Poiseuille‘s method

Nonviscous  0

Viscosity is defined as the resistance to flow.

A liquid opposes relative motion between its different

layer due to its internal friction called viscosity.

Newton’s law of viscous force:

Viscous  0
∝
 velocity gradient

=− ×2 ×

Hence force has to be applied to maintain its study motion.

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 What causes water flow? pressure difference.

The greater the pressure differential

between two points, the greater
the flow rate. This relationship can
be stated as

Here the resistance R includes everything, except pressure, that affects flow rate. R is greater for a long
tube than for a short one. The greater the viscosity  of a fluid, the greater the value
of R. Turbulence greatly increases R, whereas increasing the diameter of a tube decreases R.

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 Flow rate depends on :-
 Column height

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Tubing length

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Tube radius

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Tubes in parallel

Inlet Outlet

Inlet

Outlet

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 Turbulent flow

Conditions of flow can be described by a dimensionless quantity,

Reynolds Number, NR.

where  is the density, v an average velocity of flow, D a linear

dimension for the system in question, and  the coefficient of
viscosity. In the case of fluid flow in a tube D is the diameter of
the tube, and for laminar flow NR must be less than about 2000,

 Any obstruction or sharp corner

 high speeds of water

The layers mix, and there are significant velocities in
directions other than the overall direction of flow
 Large diameter of tube
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 Stream Line flow :

Every particle passing a point behaves exactly like the

previous particle that has just passed that point.

The streamlines in a laminar flow follow the equation of continuity,

i.e., Av = constant, where, A is the cross-sectional area of the fluid
flow, and v is the velocity of the fluid at that point. Av is defined as
the volume flux or the flow rate of the fluid, which remains
constant for steady flow.

 Low dimension hence use a capillary tube

Layers flow without mixing when flow is laminar
 Low speeds of water

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Object: Determine the viscosity of water by Poiseuille‘s method

Apparatus Used:

Travelling microscope, reading lens, capillary tube, stop watch, measuring cylinder, Beaker,
Poiseuille‘s method arrangement .

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Formula used:

ℎ
= ℎ +ℎ
8 where ℎ= −ℎ
2
and

 = coefficient of viscosity,
g = acceleration due to gravity,
a = radius of capillary tube,
l = length of capillary tube,
h1 , h2 = height of water level just before and after collecting water,
h3 = height of capillary tube,
Q = Quantity of liquid flowing per sec through the tube.
V = Volume of liquid stored in time t sec.
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 Observation Table:

Value of one division on main scale 0.05 cm

Least count of Travelling microscope = = 50
Total no. of division on vernier scale
= 0.001 cm
A) Determination of radius of capillary tube in up and down direction

S. No. Circle in first coordinate (a) Circle in third coordinate (b) ab Radius
MS (cm) VS (div) TR (cm) MS (cm) VS (div) TR (cm) (cm) R1 = (a  b)/2 in
(cm)
1. 6.95 20 6.85 11
2. 6.95 27 6.85 7

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 d

B) Determination of radius of capillary tube in left and right direction

S.No Circle in first coordinate (c) Circle in third coordinate (d) cd Radius
(cm) R2 = (c  d)/2
MS (cm) VS (div) TR (cm) MS (cm) VS (div) TR (cm) in (cm)

1. 7.90 24 7.80 30

2. 7.90 20 7.80 25

Average radius of capillary tube a = (R1 + R2 ) /2

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C) Determination of h and Q :
h1
Least count of stop watch = 1 sec. h2
Least count of meter scale = 0.1 cm.
Least count of measuring cylinder = 1cc h3

Length of capillary tube == 30.0 cm.

h3 = height of capillary tube = 15.5 cm

Height of water level Volume of Time Q

S. No. water taken in cm3/sec
Before After
collected in (sec) cm2 /sec
collecting collecting
(cm) (cc)
h1 (cm) h2 (cm)
1. 36.8 36.7 20 180
2. 36.6 36.5 20 180
3. 36.5 36.4 21 180

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Calculation:

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Maximum possible error :

Taking log of both side :

Differentiating both side:

For maximum possible error:

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Results:

The coefficient of viscosity of water at room temperature (30 0C) is

= ?

Precautions:

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