Experiment No.

4
VISCOSITY OF LIQUID BY METHOD OF FALLING SPHERE

OBJECTIVE: To determine the viscosity of a liquid by falling sphere method.

APPARATUSES:
1. Liquid (use water and oil)
2. Spherical ball
3. Stopwatch
4. Ruler
5. Weighing device
6. Transparent plastic cylinder

THEORY:
1. This method of determining viscosity was based on Stoke’s Law on viscosity. It
consists of a long vertical container which is filled with liquid whose viscosity is to be
determined. The container is surrounded by a constant temperature bath.

2. A small spherical ball or steel or stone is released and allowed to fall vertically
through the liquid. The ball will at first accelerate as it falls from the air. When the
sphere touches the liquid, the resistance to its motion increases with its velocity.
The velocity will become constant when the drag force is equal to the resistance
force.

3. The viscosity of liquid using the falling sphere and the Stoke’s Law has the following
formula:

𝑢 𝐷2 (𝑊𝑠 − 𝑊)
= 18
Where: 𝑉

𝑉 = 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙

𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝐿
𝑉= =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡
𝐿 = 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙
 𝑇 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙
𝐷 = 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒
(𝑊𝑠 – 𝑊) = 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑

PROCEDURES:
1. Determine the density of sphere by the procedure as discussed by the principle of
buoyancy.
2. Determine the unit weight of fluid.
a. Weigh an empty measuring device.
b. Pour some amount of liquid just enough to fill the measuring device at its
desired level.
c. Weigh the measuring device with liquid in it.
d. Subtract the weight of the measuring device with liquid by the weight of the
measuring device to get the mass of the liquid.
e. Read and record the volume and compute the unit weight of the liquid.
3. Drop the sphere ball with the initial position of the ball just near the liquid surface.
4. Mark the point where the velocity of the ball starts to become uniform. This will
be the initial point of the distance measurement.
5. Simultaneously set the time on as with the procedure.
6. Set the time off when the ball reaches the bottom of the container.
7. Measure the distance dropped from the initial marked point to the final position of
the ball.
8. Compute the viscosity of the liquid.
9. Provide at least three trials and get its average.

DRAWING: Draw the set up

COMPUTATIONS:
RESULTS:
Weight of cylindrical container :
Weight of container with Liquid :
Height of fall, L :
Diameter of ball :
Viscosity of water :
Viscosity of oil :

WATER:

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average

Time
Velocity
(Ws – W)
Viscosity

OIL:

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average

Time
Velocity
(Ws – W)
Viscosity

CONCLUSIONS: