D OES TEMPERATURE

AFFECT THE VISCOSITY OF

A LIQUID ?
A Research Project

This project will be conducted to find out the relationship

between temperature and viscosity. Testing for viscosity was
measured by the length of time a fluid poured through a
funnel.

Alicia Marinis
2/11/2016

2/11/2016

DOES TEMPERATURE AFFECT THE VISCOSITY OF

A LIQUID?
A Research Project

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research project is to determine whethertemperature affects the
viscosity of Coca-Cola, milk, & water.

MATERIALS
Glass Cups
Thermometer
Kettle
Refrigerator
2 Stop Watches
2L Coca-Cola Bottle
2L Tap Water
2L Lucerne 2% Milk
Stove
Kitchen Aid Stainless Steel 2.8L Pot
Measuring Cup
Funnel

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INTRODUCTION
Imagine poking a hole in the bottom of a Styrofoam cup. If honey were poured into
the cup, it would drain through the hole at a slower rate than if water were poured in the
cup. What is this reason that the honey flows slower than the water? The reason for thisis
the difference inviscositybetween honey and water. Honey has a much higher viscosity
than water. Viscosity is a property of fluids that quantifies a fluids resistance to
flow(Scholarsportalinfo, 2016).In the case of liquids, viscosity can be measured by pouring
adesignated liquidthrough a narrow opening and timing how long it takes for the
predetermined amount of liquid to completely pass through the opening.
Fluids with high viscosities are made up of molecules, which allow for a great deal
of internal friction(Physics 2016). To illustrate this, imagine flipping a glass ketchup
bottleupside down on its opening. The fluid flowing over the inside surface will flow
slower than the fluid in the center. The farther we get away from the inside surface the
speed of the flowing fluid increases. This is because the molecules that lye closer to the
glass edge experience greater frictional forces as glass is not a fluid. This difference in
speed is due to the friction of molecules in the fluid pushing past each other. The strength
that the molecules cling together is known as viscosity. This viscosity determines the
amount of friction and thus the amount of energy absorbed by the flow of the fluid(Azom,
2016). When water is in motion, the molecular makeup allows for very little friction.With
regards to individual molecules, viscosity is related by how fast molecules move with
respect to one another.
Another way we can look at viscosity is how sticky a fluid is. Fluids such as honey
and conditioner have high viscosities but water has a fairly low viscosity.As we will learn
in this experiment, viscosity also depends on temperature (Scholarsportalinfo, 2016). For
instance, engine oil is much less viscous in the summer during high temperatures then in
the middle of winter when the engine is cold.In order to keep the viscosity of the motor oil
constant throughout all seasons, additives are mixed into the oil to lessen the changes in
viscosity due to temperature.Two contributing factors to the viscosity in liquids are the
molecular interchange and cohesion(Azom, 2016). By increasing the temperature of a
liquid, the cohesive forces are reduces while increasing the rate of molecular
interchange(Azom, 2016). At room temperature, the molecules in a liquid are tightly
bound together by inter-molecular forces such as Van der Waal forces. These forces are
responsible for the viscosity of a liquid as molecules are tightly bound together, and make
it quite difficult to move. As temperature increases, the thermal or kinetic energy of each
individual molecule become more mobile. Viscosity is reduced as the attractive binding
energy is decreased.

2/11/2016

As discussed, viscosity is the measure of a liquids resistance to flow. Liquids with

high viscosity flow slower than those fluids with low viscosity. When any solid is under
shear stress, it will eventually flow, so all solids can be said to have infinite viscosities.
With this idea, the material with the highest viscosity in the word would most likely be
the diamond.As temperature decreases, particles in fluids slow down and come closer
together. The colder the temperature, the harder it is for the particles to move past each
other which increases viscosity. As temperature increases, particles speed up and move
apart which decreases viscosity (Tcrsbca, 2016). Understanding the effect of temperature
on the viscosity of fluids is significant in many areas of science. One area in particular is
how global climate changes will impact the viscosity of the oceans.
There are two different measurements of viscosity that are used to describe fluids:
dynamic and kinematic. Dynamic viscosity, sometimes known as shear viscosity is
calculated by the ratio of the shear stress, to the shear rate, for a fluid. This form of
viscosity measures the internal resistance of a fluid (Engineeringtoolbox 2016).

(1.1)

Kinematic viscosity is calculated by the ratio of the viscous force, to the inertial
force, on the fluid, or dynamic viscosity divided by the density (Neutrium 2016).

(1.2)

The kinematic viscosity is traditionally used when pouring a designated amount of

fluid into a narrow opening and timing how long it takes for the fluid to travel through the
opening. From the given background knowledge, it is anticipated that from the three
chosen fluids in the experiment, milk will have a highest viscosity followed by Coca-Cola
and water (Physics 2016).

VARIABLES
The independent variable is the variable that is adjusted by the experimenter and
directly influences the dependent variable. The dependent variable responds to the
independent variable. In this experiment the independent variable is temperature because
as it changes the dependent variable viscosity changes as a result. The temperature is
measured with a thermometer. The viscosity is measured as the time it takes for the
liquid to fall through an opening. The controlled variables are everything that remains
constant and unchanged during the experiment. There are many examples of controlled
variables in this experiment such as the size of the pot used to boil the milk and CocaCola, the kettle used to boil the water, the glass cups used to hold the liquids, the
measuring cup used to measure each liquid and the volumes of the three liquids; milk,
Coca-Cola and water.

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HYPOTHESIS
If temperature increases then viscosity will decreaseproportionatelyand as
temperature decreases, viscosity will increase proportionately.

METHOD
Using a kettle that was safely positioned on a stable surface, two liters of water
were poured into the kettle and boiled. Once boiled, 0.2 liters of water was measuredin a
measuring cup and poured into each of eightidentical glass cups labelled 1-8. Each cup
was checked for cracks, chips and scratches. Cups 1 and 2 were placed on the counter.
Cups 3-8 were all placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator so as to cool them as
equally as possible and not allow factors such as different circulation rates affect the
cooling rate. The temperature of the refrigerator was documented at 1.8C using the
thermometer installed inside the fridge. Stopwatch A was used to measure the time the
cups cooled in the refrigerator. With a thermometer, the temperature of the water fromthe
bottom of Cup 1 was measured and recorded in Table 1.The thermometer was placed away
from the edge of the table to prevent the thermometer from being knocked off. While
recording time using a separatestopwatchB, Cup 1 was poured through the funnel into the
empty measuring cup. The stopwatch was started at the exact moment the water first
poured into the funnel. The funnel was safely inserted into the measuring cup to prevent
spillage. The time it took for the water to flow through the narrow opening(viscosity) from
when the water first entered the funnel to the last drop of water leaving the funnel
measured using stopwatch B and recorded in Table 1.
Five minutes after it was removed from the refrigerator, the temperature of Cup 2
was recorded, once again measuring the water at the bottom of the cup. Cup 2 had been
cooling at room temperature which was documented at 18C from the thermostat.While
recording time using stopwatch B starting when the water first entered the funnel, Cup 2
was poured through the funnel into the empty measuring cup. The timewas recorded in
Table 1. This process was repeated for each of the remaining six cups in the refrigerator.
Every five minutes, a new cup was removed from the refrigerator, the temperature was
measured at the bottom of the cup, and the time was measured and recorded.
Before using the stove, long hair was tied back, long sleeves were rolled up, loose
jewelry was removed and non-slip footwear was worn to prevent accidents. Two liters of
Coca-Cola was boiled. Once boiled, the same process was repeated as per the procedure
used for water however the results were recorded in Table 2.
Lastly, using the stove, two liters of 2% Lucerne milk was boiled. The milk was
stirred as it boiled as to prevent boiling over. Once boiled, the same process was repeated

2/11/2016

as per the procedure used for water and milk however the results were recorded in Table
3.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

Glassware should have no cracks, chips, or scratches.

If any glassware is broken do not handle the broken glass with your bare hands.
Use a brush and dustpan to clean up broken glass. Place broken glass in a
designated glass disposal container.
When using the stove, ensure long hair is tied back, long sleeves are rolled up, loose
jewelry is removed and non-slip footwear is worn.
Never use a thermometer as a stirring device.
Dont place thermometers where they are likely to roll or be knocked off a table. All
thermometers should have anti-roll devices.
Position the kettle safely on a stable surface and do not overfill the kettle.
Ensure the funnel is safely inserted into the measuring cup to prevent spillage
When dealing with boiling liquids, there is always an element of risk of burns or
scalding, so take careful attention when performing experiment and eliminate any
trip hazards or distractions.

RAW DATA DISPLAY AND MANIPULATION

The raw data was organized into columns under the headings Cup, Temperature (C) and
Time (in seconds) 0.2L of fluid flowed through the funnel. When determining the time from the
stop watches, the results were recorded in each corresponding table; table 1 for water, table 2 for
Coca-Cola and table 3 for milk. The results were then graphed to show the relationship between
the flowing time of the liquids in seconds and temperature of different fluids. When plotting the
graph, temperature was the independent variable and time was the dependent variable. The data
points were connected with a line of best fit to show the relationship between temperature and
time.

2/11/2016

Table 1 Water Viscosity

Cup

Temperature (C)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

85
75
57
52
46
38
20
15

Time (in seconds)

0.2L of fluid flowed
through the funnel
6.52
6.65
7.01
7.12
7.46
7.80
8.15
8.42

Flowing Time (secnods)

Water Viscosity vs.

Temperature
10
8
6
4
2
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

Temperature (C)

Figure 1 Relationship between the

temperature and the flowing time of water

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Table 2 Coca-Cola Viscosity

Cup

Temperature (C)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

90
79
60
51
42
38
25
17

Time (in seconds)

0.2L of fluid flowed
through the funnel
7.31
7.45
7.91
7.95
8.04
8.00
8.29
8.52

Flowing Time (secnods)

Coca-Cola Viscosity vs.

Temperature
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

20

40

60

80

100

Temperature (C)

Figure 1.22Relationship between temperature

Figure
and the flowing time of Coca-Cola

2/11/2016

Table 3 Milk Viscosity

Cup

Temperature (C)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

100
92
76
65
50
41
28
19

Time (in seconds)

0.2L of fluid flowed
through the funnel
7.09
7.35
7.50
7.84
8.05
8.41
8.67
9.02

Flowing Time (secnods)

Milk Viscosity vs.

Temperature
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Temperature (C)

Figure 3Relationship between temperature

and the flowing time of Milk

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DISCUSSION
Analyzing the graphsthere is a correlation that indicates that as temperature
increases, viscosity decreases. The reason for this was that as the temperature increased,
liquid particles began moving more rapidly which caused the particles to gain energy and
convert heat into kinetic energy. Due to this input of external energy and the resulting
increased kinetic energy, many chemical bonds in the fluids are broken which make it
easier for particles to move.
Milk is a homogeneous substance made up of large particles, also known as a
colloid. Colloids, which also include gels and paints, have a higher viscosity. The graphs
summarize the relationship between temperature and flowing time for three different
liquids. The line of best fit is known as the gradient, which for milk reveals that the
viscosity, while decreasing with increasing temperature, does not change a lot as
temperature increases. Whereasfor water, when the temperature increases, the water
molecules begin to move rapidly, breaking the hydrogen bonds. From the graph, it is clear
that the effect of increased temperature is greater than it is for milk. This is due to the
particles gaining energy from the heat and becoming more active. Coca-Cola acts different
than water and milk and this is due to the complexity of Coca-Cola and the presence of
CO2 (carbon dioxide). As you increase the temperature of Coca-Cola, the solubility of the
CO2 decreases and as you decrease temperature the CO2 dissolves and reacts in the water
to form H2C03 (carbonic acid). The amount of carbonic acid is slight as most of the carbon
dioxide dissolves in the water instead of reacting with it. Temperature on the viscosity of
Coca-Cola was between the effects of water and milk as Coca-Cola is more dense than
water but not as dense as milk.
To calculate viscosity of the liquids, these materials are required: a small marble,
graduated cylinder, ruler, stopwatch, water, scale and a calculator is required. The sphere
(marble) can be no greater than the radius of the graduated cylinder. The equation used to
determine the viscosity is illustrated in (1.3) where is the density of the sphere; is the
density of the liquid, is the acceleration due to gravity, is the velocity of the sphere and
is the radius of the sphere (Wikihow 2016).

2 2

(1.3)

Density is the ratio of mass over volume of an object measured in g/mL. Using
a scale, the weight of the liquid and the marble can be measured. The radius of the marble
can be calculated by measuring the circumference and dividing by 2. The acceleration of
gravity on earth is a constant 9.8m/s2. In order to calculate density of the marble, the
mass and volume is needed. The formula for density is illustrated in (1.4). The volume of
the sphere can be measured using the formula illustrated in (1.5). The volume can also be
measured by the displacement of water in a graduated cylinder. The initial level of water
is measured, the marble is placed in the water and the new water level is recorded. By

2/11/2016

subtracting the initial water level from the new water level, the volume of the sphere in
mL is determined(Wikihow 2016). To calculate the density of water, measure the mass of
an empty cylinder, and the mass of water in the cylinder. By subtracting the two values,
the mass of the water is obtained. The volume will be read from the graduated cylinder.
Using formula (1.4), density can be calculated.

(1.4)

= 3
3

(1.5)

Once the densities of the marble and water have been determined, the viscosities
can be measured. Fill the graduated cylinder with water, and mark the cylinder 2.5 cm
from the top and bottom of the water line. Measure the distance between the two marks
and place the bottom of the ruler in line with the bottom line on the cylinder. Drop the
marble into the granulated cylinder and begin recording. Stop recording when the ball
reaches the bottom mark of the cylinder. By repeating the process more than once, the
more accurate the measurement will become. To calculate the velocity of the sphere
equation (1.6) is used. All of the information can now be plugged into equation (1.3) to
measure the viscosity of water(Wikihow 2016).

(1.6)

Due to the limitation of equipment, it was impossible to keep the temperature

constant. The slight amount of liquid that attached to the wall of the measuring cup,
funnel and glass cups would have affected the measurement. A measuring cup is a less
accurate measurement tool than a measuring cylinder. For these reasons, there may be
variation in the level determined while reading the measuring cup. This experiment was
difficult to perform as only one person followed the procedures. To ameliorate the
experiment, designating one person to time the fluid pouring through the funnel would
decreased the length of time between recording and poring. This experiment was only
conducted once. By increasing the number of trials, the measurements would have become
more accurate.To build on this experiment, statistical analysis could be performed to
quantify the variance in the measurements (Spacegrant 2016)

SUMMARY
The purpose of this research project was to test whether increased temperature
affects the viscosity of fluids. My hypothesis was that as temperature increases, viscosity
would decrease. Due to the large colloids found in milk, the temperature did not affect the
viscosity of the liquid. My hypothesis was supported; however there were many
experimental errors in the project.

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REFERENCES
Azomcom. (2016). 18 January, 2016, from http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=10036
EngineeringToolbox (2016). 10 February, 2016, from http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/dynamic-absolutekinematic-viscosity-d_412.html
Neutrium. (2016). 10 February, 2016, from https://neutrium.net/fluid_flow/viscosity/
Physics (2016). 10 February, 2016, from http://physics.info/viscosity/
Scholarsportalinfo. (2016).18 January, 2016, from http://books2.scholarsportal.info/viewdoc.html?id=265060
SpaceGrant (2016). 10 February, 2016, from http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/Viscosity.html
Tcrsbca.(2016). 18 January, 2016, from http://www.tcrsb.ca/dhcs/grade10/Science 8/Science 8 Unit 2
Fluids/11. How Does Temperature Affect Viscosity.pdf
Wikihow (2016). 10 February, 2016, from http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Viscosity

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