Calculating viscosity of a liquid with a falling object

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the viscosity of castor oil using the falling object method, where a steel-bearing falls through glycerol and castor oil. Participants explore the relationship between viscosity, density, and velocity, while addressing the challenges in applying Stokes' law without knowing the radius of the steel-bearing.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes using the equation Viscosity = Density * Velocity, where velocity is calculated as Distance/time, but expresses frustration over obtaining an incorrect viscosity value for castor oil.
  • Another participant suggests that the net driving force for the falling object might be influenced by the density difference between the steel-bearing and the liquids.
  • Several participants reference Stokes' law, noting that it requires the radius of the spherical particle, which is not provided in this case.
  • A humorous suggestion is made to denote the radius as ##R## and hope it cancels out in the calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty about the correct approach to incorporate the density of the steel-bearing and the implications of Stokes' law without the radius. There is no consensus on how to resolve these issues.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations related to the missing radius of the steel-bearing and the dependence on assumptions regarding the density differences and their effects on viscosity calculations.

Beyar
Messages
7
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


[/B]
A small steel-bearing falls 25.0 cm in glycerol in 23.8 s and the same distance in castor oil in 15.1 s. The densities are for glycerol 1260 kg m−3 , for castor oil 961 kg m−3 , and for steel 7830 kg m−3 . The viscosity for glycerol is 1.490 Pa s. Calculate the viscosity for castor oil. All values are valid for 20 ◦C.

Homework Equations


I guess Viscosity=Density*Velocity where the velocity is equal to Distance/time.

The Attempt at a Solution


Thought I'd put the equation for the distance equal to each other and then rewrite it to get the viscosity of the castor oil, but I get the wrong value. It should be 0,988 Pas. I get the final equation to:
Viscosity of Glycerol= (Density of Castor Oil*Viscosity of Castor*Time the steel bearing fell in the Glycerol)/(Density of Glycerol * time steel bearing fell in Castor oil)

The equation has not regarded the denisty of the steel-bearing though, so that might be the problem but I don't see how I would get around to fit it in.
It is very frustrating.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Beyar said:
The equation has not regarded the denisty of the steel-bearing though
Well then, could it be that the net driving force for falling is a density difference ?
 
Beyar said:
But stokes relation has accounted the radius of the spherical particle, I don't have a radius to utilize.
Call it ##R##, cross your fingers and hope it divides out in the answer :smile:
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
34K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
6K
Replies
9
Views
4K
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
10K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
7K