DEPARTMENT OF PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY
ENGINEERING EXPERIMENTATION LABORATORY

LAB MODULE: 02

TITLE: Determination of Viscosity of a Given Fluid

OBJECT: (a) To verify the Stroke’s law.

(b) To determine the viscosity of a given fluid.

THEORY: If there is a relative motion between a solid spherical object and a fluid, (it is
assumed that the solid spherical object is submerged in the fluid), the resistance applied
by the fluid (drag force) on the solid spherical object, R is given by:

R = 6.π.μ.v.r = 3.π.μ.v.d

where, μ = viscosity of the fluid,

v = relative velocity of the solid spherical ball w.r.t. the fluid
r = radius of the solid spherical ball, and
d = diameter of the solid spherical ball.

4 π .d 3
Now, we know that the volume of a sphere is given by, Vs = π .r 3 =
3 6
π .d 3
Weight of the solid spherical ball = .γ s
6
where, γ s = specific weight of the material of the solid spherical ball.
π
Volume of the dispersed fluid = .d 3
6
π
Weight of the dispersed fluid = .d 3 .γ L
6
where, γ L = specific weight of the given fluid.
According to Archimede’s principle, the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the
dispersed fluid.
Total downward force acting on a solid spherical ball, moving vertically downwards
π
= .d 3 . (γ s − γ L )
6
π
Since, R = .d 3 . (γ s − γ L )
6
d 2 . (γ s − λ L )
Therefore, μ =
8.v
For the given solid, γ s = 7.8 gram-weight/cc, and
For the given fluid, γ L = 0.8 gram-weight/cc

1
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

(a) Calculate the diameter of a given spherical ball with the help of a vernier caliper.
(b) Drop the solid spherical ball vertically in the given tube (filled with the given fluid).
(c) When the ball crosses the upper mark, start the stopwatch.
(d) Similarly, when the ball crosses the lower mark, stop the stopwatch.

EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS:

Observation No. Diameter of the ball (d) Time taken to cross Relative velocity of
(mm) 1 m. (sec) the solid spherical
ball, w.r.t. the given
fluid (m/sec)

REPORT MUST CONTAIN: a) Sample calculation for determining μ.

b) Elaborate discussion on observations.

Name: Roll No.:

Year: Date:
Group:

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(Signature of the class-teacher)