How to determine the coefficient of viscosity of glycerin or castor oil by

Stoke's method
Aim
To determine the coefficient of viscosity of glycerin or castor oil by Stokes method.

Apparatus
Falling sphere viscometer, steel ball-bearings, a thermometer, a stop watch, a screw gauge, a meter
scale, forceps, rubber bands etc.

Theory
The method is based on the application of Stokes law to the fall of small spheres through a viscous
liquid. If a small sphere of radius r and density is allowed to fall of small spheres through a viscous
liquid of density and coefficient of viscosity , then at any instant the sphere is acted upon by the
following forces:

1. Viscous drag F = 6rv directed upward where v is the velocity of the sphere.
2. The effective weight of the sphere = 4/3r3(-)g directed vertically downward.
The viscous drag increases with the velocity of the sphere and so long it is less than the upward
forces the velocity of the sphere goes on increasing. When the viscous drag is equal to the effective
weight of the sphere, there is no resultant force acting on the sphere and hence it acquires a
constant velocity called the terminal velocity v0.
Hence
6rv0 = 4/34/3r3(-)g
= 2/9 r2(-)g/v0
If t is the time taken by the sphere to fall through a distance x, when the velocity is constant, then
v0 = x/t
= 2/9 tr2(-)g/x

Procedure
1. Take a number of steel ball-bearing and measure their diameters accurately with a screw gauge.
Thoroughly clean the spheres so that no grease and dirt is sticking to their surface. Place these balls
in a clean beaker or watch glass and soak their surfaces thoroughly with the experimental liquid.
2. Set the viscometer as shown in figure and tie three rubber bands as at a, b and cequidistant from
each other. i.e., ab = bc. The distance between two consecutive bands should be 10-15cm.
3. Transfer one of the balls with the help of forceps into the funnel B. The ball after falling through the
tube of the funnel will fall centrally through the liquid along the axis of the tube A. when the ball
reaches the band a start the stop-watch and note the time taken by it to cover the distance ab and
then bc. If the two time intervals are equal the ball has acquired the terminal velocity. Find the mean
of the time of transit between ab and bc.
4. Repeat the experiment with other balls and calculate the value of r2t for each ball separately. Find
the mean value of r2t.
5. Measure the density of the liquid with the help of a hydrometer and note the temperature of the
water bath surrounding the tube A.

Observations and Calculations

Density of the liquid = _kg/m3
Density of ball-bearing(Steel) = _kg/m3
Temperature of the bath = _C
Mean radius of ball-bearings = _cm = _m
Mean r2 = _m2
Measure mean time of transit for each ball
Mean r2t = _m2sec
= 2/9 tr2(-)g/x

Precautions and sources of errors

1. The ball-bearing should be small in size so that the time of transit between two consecutive bands
is large for accurate measurements.
2. To eliminate the wall effect on the value of terminal velocity the radius of the tube containing the
liquid should be large as compared to the radius of the ball.
3. The balls should be thoroughly soaked in the experimental liquid before making them fall through
the liquid and the soaked balls should be picked up with the help of forceps.

4. The balls should fall along the axis of the wider tube.
5. The viscosity changes with temperature rapidly, hence the experiment with various balls should
be carried out in quick succession.
6. The temperature of the liquid should be measured with a sensitive thermometer.