American University of Ras Al Khaimah

Experiment (1)

Fluid Properties Apparatus

Instructor: Nazik Abdullahi Mohamed Ahmed Abdulla

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Equipment Diagram:

1- Thermometer
2- Two Hydrometer jars
3- Aneroid Barometer
4- Capillary tubes
5- Universal hydrometer
6- Capillary plates
7- Beaker
8- Displacement Vessel for Archimedes exercise

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9- Measuring cylinder
10- Two falling sphere viscometers
11- Circular Spirit Level
12- Archimedes bucket and cylinder
The apparatus consists of a collection of components that demonstrate individual
fluid properties.
Exercise A - Liquid density / specific gravity using a hydrometer and pycnometer
Objective:
To determine the density of various liquids by measuring the relative density
(specific gravity) using a universal hydrometer and pycnometer
Theory
Density: The density of any fluid is defined as the mass per unit volume
𝑀
𝜌=
𝑉
𝜌 = 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
M= Mass of the fluid (kg)
L= Volume of the fluid (m3 )
Hydrometer:
Method:
By measuring the temperature and specific gravity of a liquid and calculating the
density of the liquid from the known density of water at that temperature
Equipment Required:
Universal Hydrometer 2 Hydrometer Jars Thermometer Suitable liquids for
testing
Specific gravity / relative density: The specific gravity or relative density of a fluid
is defined as the mass of a given volume of a fluid divided by the mass of the
same volume of water
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 𝑀𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑
𝑠=
𝑀𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
S= Specific gravity or relative density
(𝜌𝑉)𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝜌𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑
𝑠= =
(𝜌𝑉)𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝜌𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝜌𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 = 𝑠 × 𝜌𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
To measure the (s) Hydrometer is used:
The hydrometer is a simple tool that allows the specific gravity and hence the
density of a liquid to be determined relatively quickly.
Archimedes' principle states that the upward buoyant force that is exerted on a
body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to
the weight of the fluid that the body displaces and acts in the upward direction at
the center of mass of the displaced fluid, in other words when a body floats in a
liquid the gravitational force on the mass of the volume of liquid displaced is equal
to the gravitational force on the mass of the body

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Procedure:
Fill one Hydrometer jar with clean water and fill the other jar with a different
liquid such as glycerol or castor oil. The depth of liquid should be sufficient to
allow the Hydrometer to float insert the hydrometer in the water jar it should
measure 1 on the SG scale and then insert the hydrometer in the other fluid jar
read the SG from the scale.

The density of water is usually taken to be 1000 kg/m3. However, the actual
density varies with temperature as follows:

Temperature Density of the

(°C) water(kg/m3)
4 999.97
10 999.7
20 998.2
25 997.05
30 995.65
40 992.2
60 983.2

Collected Data:
Density
Liquid Temperature Hydrometer Kg/m3
(gm/ml)
Water 1
Fluid

Pycnometer:
Method:
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 By measuring the change in weight of a density bottle filled with the liquid to be
tested then calculating the density from the known volume and increase in
weight.
Equipment Required:
50 ml Gay-Lussac Pycnometer
Weigh balance

𝑀𝐹+𝑃 − 𝑀𝑃
𝜌𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 =
𝑉𝑃
MP = Mass of the pycnometer
MF+P = Mass of the fluid and pycnometer
VP = volume of the pycnometer 50ml
Procedure:
Ensure that pycnometer is dry then weigh it, complete with its stopper, and record
the weight. Fill the pycnometer with the liquid to be tested, allow any air bubbles
to rise to the surface then insert the stopper fully. Wipe the outside of the

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pycnometer to remove any spilt liquid then reweigh it and record the weight. If it
is required to measure the density of an alternative liquid then the pycnometer
must be cleaned and dried before repeating the procedure.
Collected Data:
MP MF+P MF VP 𝜌𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑
50 ml

Exercise B - Solid density / specific gravity using a pycnometer

Objective:
To measure the density and relative density (specific gravity) of a small irregular
solid object or granular material using a pycnometer (density bottle).
Method:
By inserting a solid object or sample of granular material, of known weight, into
the pycnometer and measuring the change in weight of the pycnometer without
water then filled with water. The change in weight is used to determine the volume
of the solid object allowing its density to be calculated.
Equipment and materials Required:
- 50 ml Gay-Lussac Pycnometer
- Lever operated balance
- Spheres
- Water

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Mass of dry solid /granular material = MS gm
Dry weight of empty pycnometer = MP gm
Mass of pycnometer filled with liquid only = MP+L gm
Mass of liquid = ML = MP+L – MP gm
Volume of pycnometer (volume of liquid) = VP = 50 ml
Density of liquid = ρL = ML / VP gm/ml
Mass of pycnometer with liquid and solid = MP+L+S gm
Mass of liquid displaced = MLdisp = MP+L + MS –MP+L+S = gm
Volume of liquid displaced (Volume of solid) = VLdisp = MLdisp / ρL ml
Density of solid = ρS = MS / VLdisp gm/ml (kg/m3)

Procedure:
The density of the steel balls used in the measurement of viscosity (Exercise D) can
be determined using this technique if required. Ensure that pycnometer is dry then
weigh it, complete with its stopper, and record the mass MP (gm) Fill the
pycnometer with clean water or alternative liquid as required, allow any air bubbles
to rise to the surface then insert the stopper fully. Wipe the outside of the
pycnometer to remove any spilt liquid then reweigh it and record the mass MP+L

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(gm). Weigh the solid or granular material to be measured and record the mass MS
gm. Remove the stopper the carefully insert the solid or granular material into the
pycnometer, displacing liquid from the pycnometer. Replace the stopper, dry the
outside of the pycnometer then reweigh the pycnometer and record the mass
MP+L+S gm.

Exercise C - Liquid viscosity using a falling sphere viscometer

Objective:
To measure the viscosity of various liquids at atmospheric temperature and
pressure using a Falling Sphere Viscometer.
Method:
By timing the fall of different sized spheres through a given depth of the liquid to
be tested then calculating the viscosity from the mean velocity.

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 - the gravitational force on the ball mg
- the buoyant force or Up-thrust FB
- the viscous force resisting motion FV
mg= FB + FV
mg- FB + FV=0

𝑚
𝜌=
𝑉
𝑚 = 𝜌𝑉
4
𝑚𝑔 = 𝜌𝑠 𝑔 𝜋𝑟 3
3
𝜌𝑠 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒

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FB = 𝜌𝐿 𝑔 𝜋𝑟 3
3

𝜌𝑙 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑑

FV = 6𝜇𝜋𝑟𝑢 from stokes law
𝜇 = 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
u=mean velocity of the ball =
𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

an expression describing the resisting force on a particle moving through a

viscous fluid and showing that a maximum velocity is reached in such
cases, e.g. for an object falling under gravity through a fluid.
4 4
𝜌𝑠 𝑔 𝜋𝑟 3 − 𝜌𝐿 𝑔 𝜋𝑟 3 − 6𝜇𝜋𝑟𝑢 = 0
3 3
4 4
6𝜇𝜋𝑟𝑢 = 𝜌𝑠 𝑔 𝜋𝑟 3 − 𝜌𝐿 𝑔 𝜋𝑟 3
3 3

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 2 𝑔
𝜇 = 𝑟 2 (𝜌𝑠 − 𝜌𝑙 )
9 𝑢

Diameters of spheres:
- Small 1.5875mm
- Medium 2.38125mm
- Large 3.175mm
Drop balls of different diameters, one at a time through the funnel at the top of the
viscometer and time the fall between the marks on the wall of the viscometer.
Repeat each measurement three times to obtain an average timing for each
diameter of ball. Repeat the measurements for each size of ball falling through the
liquid in the second viscometer. Note that with liquids of low viscosity the larger
spheres cannot be used because the fall time will be too short to obtain accurate
results. A smaller size ball could be used to increase the fall time but observation
of the sphere through the liquid would then be difficult.
𝜇
Calculate the Kinematic viscosity 𝛾=
𝜌

Exercise E - Capillary elevation in capillary tubes:

Objective:
To measure the effect of capillary elevation inside capillary tubes
Method:
By immersing tubes with different capillary bore diameters into water and
comparing the elevation of the level inside the tubes due to surface tension
Equipment Required:
- Glass capillary tubes in frame
- Pencil
- waterproof card(cut to size to fit behind capillary tubes)

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Theory:
When a tube with a small bore is inserted into a container of liquid, the level will
either rise or fall within the tube as shown in the diagram depending on the angle
of contact between the liquid surfaces.

Considering the water, the gravitational force on the column of liquid elevated
must be supported by the surface tension 𝜎, acting round the capillary tube.
𝜋𝑑 2
𝜌𝑔ℎ = 𝜎𝜋𝑑𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
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𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 1 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑒 𝜃 = 0

𝜋𝑑 2
𝜌𝑔ℎ = 𝜎𝜋𝑑
4

𝜎
ℎ=4
𝜌𝑔𝑑
Procedure:
Observe the level of the water in each of the tubes, the water level rises slightly
due to surface tension in the water. Make sure the capillary tubes are thoroughly

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clean then rinse in clean water to remove all traces of detergent. Fill the water
trough to the level of the bottom support plate and insert the capillary tubes.
Observe that the water level inside each of the tubes rises, reducing bore sizes
producing more elevation. Place a card behind the capillary tubes. Mark the card
with the height of the capillary elevation in each tube. With a pair of dividers,
measure the capillary rise “h” for each diameter of tube and record the
measurements.
Results:
- First you will read the measurement of h that is marked on the card
- Calculate the theoretical capillary rise for each diameter of tube using the
equation
Where the Surface tension of water 𝜎 = .072N/m at 25°C

Tube (mm) Measured calculated

0.5
0.8
1.1
1.7
2
2.2

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