Name: Aneka Spence

Lab Title: Terminal Velocity

Date: April 5, 2023
Aim: To determine the coefficient of viscosity of automotive gear oil.
Apparatus/Materials:
● Measuring cylinder
● Gear Oil
● Vernier Calliper
● Marbles
● Ruler
● Camcorder

Method:
1. An amply sized measuring cylinder was rinsed before carefully depositing 1500 ml.
2. The sphere was brought close to the surface of the fluid and the stopwatch was prepared
to be used to time the motion of the sphere from the moment it hits the surface of the
fluid.
3. Another person was prepared to record a video of the passage of the sphere through the
viscous fluid.
4. After the sphere was released, the stopwatch was started at the appropriate time and
recording was done at different intervals.
5. Steps 5 -7 were repeated thrice to get three values for the times.
6. The results were tabulated.

Timet/(s) Displacement s/(cm) Displacement s/(m)

TABLE SHOWING TIME VALUES AS THE SPHERE MOVED THROUGH
RESPECTIVE DISTANCES

Calculations:
Radius of sphere=
Volume of sphere=
Density of sphere=3g/cm3 [Convert to S.I. Units]
Density of fluid=900kg/m3
Terminal velocity [Obtained using how far the sphere fell per unit time.]
Use Stoke’s Law to calculate the coefficient of viscosity of the gear oil by transposing for
“eta”.
Use dimensional analysis to determine the units this quantity is measured in.
Discussion:
Stoke’s law states that the force that opposes the motion of a sphere moving through a
viscous fluid is directly proportional to the velocity and the radius of the sphere, and the
viscosity of the fluid. The drag force, F on a sphere of radius, r moving through a fluid of
viscosity η at a speed v is given by F = 6
What is Stokes' Law is and how it can be used to measure the coefficient of viscosity of a
fluid. Discuss the equation for Stokes' Law, which relates the drag force experienced by a
spherical object moving through a fluid to the viscosity of the fluid.
Selection of Fluid and Spherical Object: Discuss the selection of a suitablefluid and a
spherical object for the experiment. The fluid should have a known viscosity, and the
spherical object should be smooth and uniforminshape. Glass spheres or steel balls are
commonly used in these types of experiments.
Measurement of Sphere's Terminal Velocity: Explain how to measure the sphere's terminal
velocity as it falls through the fluid. Students will needtouse a stopwatch or other timing
device to measure the time taken for the sphere to fall a certain distance through the fluid.
The distance shouldbe large enough to ensure that the sphere is falling at a constant velocity.
Calculation of Viscosity: Discuss how to calculate the coefficient of viscosityof
the fluid using the measured values of the sphere's diameter, density, andterminal
velocity. Explain how to rearrange the equation for Stokes' Lawtosolve for the
coefficient of viscosity.
Sources of Error: Discuss the potential sources of error in the experiment, such as
variations in the temperature or density of the fluid, or errors inmeasuring the distance or
time taken for the sphere to fall. Encourage students to consider ways to minimize these
sources of error and to calculatethe uncertainty in their results.