Viscosity, Surface Tension and

Temperature
Does surface tension and viscosity increase when the temperature decrease?
Is there any relationship between surface tension and viscosity?

By Crystal Smith

Purpose
The purpose of my project is to prove that as temperature decreases viscosity
Increase, but the surface tension decreases or stays the same and to determine
that there is no relationship between surface tension and viscosity.

Hypothesis
I hypothesize that when the temperature decreases viscosity increases but the
surface tension decreases and stays the same.

Background/Research
Surface tension- The force that causes a molecule on the surface of the liquid to be pushed together and
form a layer.
Viscosity - The state of being thick, sticky and semi fluids in consistency due to internal friction.
Temperature - The degree or intensity of heat or cold present in a substance or object.

Materials

Thermometer
paper clips or pennies
small pieces of paper
Saucepan
glass drinking cups
measuring cup
digital balance
milk
vinegar
Coke
Tap water
funnel
video recorder
pen
notepad

Procedures for viscosity

1.
2.

3.
4.
5.
6.

Boil water in the electrical kettle. Measure 0.2L of water in the measuring cup eight times. Put 0.2L
of water into 8 identical glass cups.
Put six of the glass cups into the refrigerator in order to cool them down. Each cup of water will
remain in the refrigerator for different periods of time. The reason for this is that each cup needs a
different core temperature.
Put one cup on the counter, and use the other one to do Step 4 so as to have different high
temperatures.
Pour the water through the funnel while measuring time using a stopwatch for all 0.2L water to pass
through the funnel.
Repeat Step 4 with the six glass cups in the refrigerator and one cup on the counter to get flowing
times at different temperatures.
Repeat Step 1-Step 5 on different liquids: Coke, milk, and vinegar.

Procedures for Surface Tension

1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

Put eight identical glass cups on the table; chill water in a large container in the freezer, and boil
water on the stove.
Combine the chilled water and boiling water in each cup to achieve different compositions
(ingredients) of chilled water and boiling water and stir the water in order to get different
temperatures.
Put a small piece of identical paper on the surface of the water of each cup for better pressure
distribution.
Put paper clips on the paper in each cup until the paper clips begin to fall; measure the temperature
of each cup when the paper clips starts to fall down.
Repeat the same procedures for vinegar, Coke and milk.

Data/Result

Conclusion

Why I decided to do this Project

I decided to do this project because I always wondered