LABORATORY EXPERIMENT 1 MEASUREMENT OF

VISCOSITY

Contents:1.1

Objectives

1.2

Introduction

1.3

Apparatus

1.4

Procedures

1.5

Observations and Results

1.6

Analysis and Calculation

1.7

Discussion

1.8

Conclusion

Page 1 of 10

1.1 Objective:
To understand the viscosity of liquid.
To measure the viscosity of the supplied fluid using Standard Calibrated Glass
Capillary Viscometers and compare with the calibrated values.

1.2 Introduction:
Shear stress: As fluid moves, shear stress developed in it, the magnitude of it
depends on the viscosity of the fluid. Shear stress is the force required to slide one
unit area layer of a substance over another.
Dynamic viscosity (): The change of velocity with position is called as velocity
v
y

gradient
. Shear stress
is directly proportional to the velocity gradient as
v

or,

v
y

v / y

where = constant of proportionality = dynamic viscosity of fluid. ,

Unit of is obtained as

stress

Change of velocity

change in dis tan ce

N
N
2
2
N s N s
m
m

2
m
1
m2
m 1 m
/ m
s
s m

( 1 N/m2 = 1 Pascal, 1 Pa and 1 N = 1 (kg.m)/s2)

N s kg . m s
kg

2
2
2
m.s
m
s
m

Kinematic viscosity,

unit ofv

kg
kg m3 m 2
m
.
s

kg
m . s kg
s
3
m

(cgs system unit obsolete , 1 stoke = 1 cm2/s = 1 10-4m2/s

and

1 centistoke = stoke/100 = 110-6 m2/s)

Page 2 of 10
Figure 1.1 Calibration

Figure 1.2 Calibration

Oil, RL106/8

Oil, RL102/6

1.3

Appara
us:

- Stand
rd

Calibrated Glass Capillary

Viscometers (to measure
kinematic viscosity, v, of
transparent liquids).
Refer to figure 1.3
Calibration Oil, (RL106/8)
[Brown in colour] and
(RL102/6) [Yellow in colour]. Shown in figure 1.2 and 1.3
Thermometer
Hand-pump
Stop-watch
Figure 1.1 Standard
Calibrated Glass
Capillary Viscometers
placed inside a Constant
Temperature Bath

1.4

Procedures:

Note : PLEASE READ ALL THE PROCEDURE BEFORE ATTEMPTING THE EXPERIMENT.
1. The viscometer tube is charged with a specified quantity of test fluid. Here we are
using Calibration Oil, RL 102/6 (Yellow) for Tube 400/90 and RL106/8(Brown) for
Tube 200/v172.
2. Choose 6 different test temperature for each two Calibration Oil. Start from
lowest temperature (27C/room temperature). Do not exceed more than 100 C.
When heating the bath to certain temperature, ensure that the fluid remain in the
bath for about 2-5 minutes to stabilize to the desired temperature (Wait for the
light indicator turns green).
3. Use the thermometer to measure the temperature of the bath.
4. After stabilizing at the test temperature, Hand pump is used to draw fluid through
the bulb and slightly above the upper timing mark.
5. The suction is removed and the fluid is allowed to flow with the gravity.
6. The working section of the tube is the capillary below the lower timing mark. The
time required for the leading edge of the meniscus (curve surface of fluid
due to surface tension) to pass from the upper timing mark to the lower
Page 3 of 10

timing mark is recorded

7. The kinematic viscosity (v) is computed by multiplying the flow time by the
calibration constant of the viscometer supplied by the vendor.
8. The viscosity unit used in these tests is the centistoke (cST), which is equivalent to
(mm2/s) . This value is must be multiplied by 10-6 to obtain the MKS standard unit
of m2/s.

1.5
Results:

Observations and

Temperature at 23 C

No
of
Test

Time UTM-LTM (s)

Multiplyin
g
calibratio
n
constant

Kinematic
viscosity,
v (centistock,
cST), (mm2/s).
Tube
Tube
200/V17
400/90
2

Tube
400/90

Tube
200/V172

619.00

30.68

0.10184

63.04

3.124

608.00

30.75

0.10184

61.97

3.132

603.00

30.63

0.10184

61.41

3.119

4
5

30.62
30.60

0.10184
0.10184

3.118
3.116

Kinematic viscosity
(multiplied by (10-6)
(m2/s )
Tube
400/90
63.04 x 106

61.97 x 106

61.41 x 10-

Tube
200/V172
3.124 x 10-6
3.132 x 10-6

3.119 x 10-6

3.118 x 10-6
3.116 x 10-6

Temperature at 27 C

No
of
Test

1
2
3
4
5

Time UTM-LTM (min- Multiplyin

g
sec)
calibratio
n
Tube
Tube
constant
400/90 200/V172
462
466
463
-

24.87
24.31
24.20
24.03
23.87

0.101808
0.101808
0.101808
0.101808
0.101808

Kinematic
viscosity,
v (centistock,
cST), (mm2/s).
Tube
Tube
200/V17
400/90
2
47.04
2.532
47.44
2.475
47.14
2.464
2.446
2.430

Temperature at 36 C
Page 4 of 10

Kinematic viscosity
(multiplied by (10-6)
(m2/s )
Tube
400/90

Tube
200/V172

4.7010-5
4.7410-5
4.7110-5
-

2.5310-6
2.4810-6
2.4610-6
2.4510-6
2.4310-6

No
of
Test

1
2
3
4
5

Time UTM-LTM (min- Multiplyin

g
sec)
calibratio
n
Tube
Tube
constant
400/90 200/V172
282
282
282
281
281

18.00
18.93
18.50
19.28
18.12

0.101733
0.101733
0.101733
0.101733
0.101733

Kinematic
viscosity,
v (centistock,
cST), (mm2/s).
Tube
Tube
200/V17
400/90
2
28.69
1.831
28.69
1.926
28.69
1.882
28.59
1.961
28.59
1.843

Kinematic viscosity
(multiplied by (10-6)
(m2/s )
Tube
400/90

Tube
200/V172

2.8710-5
2.8710-5
2.8710-5
2.8610-5
2.8610-5

1.8310-6
1.9310-6
1.8810-6
1.9610-6
1.8410-6

Temperature at 46 C

No
of
Test

1
2
3
4
5

Time UTM-LTM (min- Multiplyin

g
sec)
calibratio
n
Tube
Tube
constant
400/90 200/V172
160
160
160
160
161

12.53
11.66
11.67
11.46
12.44

0.101650
0.101650
0.101650
0.101650
0.101650

Kinematic
viscosity,
v (centistock,
cST), (mm2/s).
Tube
Tube
200/V17
400/90
2
16.26
1.274
16.26
1.185
16.26
1.186
16.26
1.165
16.37
1.265

Temperature at 56 C

Page 5 of 10

Kinematic viscosity
(multiplied by (10-6)
(m2/s )
Tube
400/90

Tube
200/V172

1.6310-5
1.6310-5
1.6310-5
1.6310-5
1.6410-5

1.2710-6
1.1910-6
1.1910-6
1.1710-6
1.2710-6

No
of
Test

1
2
3
4
5

Time UTM-LTM (min- Multiplyin

g
sec)
calibratio
n
Tube
Tube
constant
400/90 200/V172
99.66
99.50
100.20
99.20
99.00

8.28
7.95
8.25
8.07
8.19

0.101600
0.101600
0.101600
0.101600
0.101600

Kinematic
viscosity,
v (centistock,
cST), (mm2/s).
Tube
Tube
200/V17
400/90
2
10.13
0.841
10.11
0.808
10.18
0.838
10.08
0.820
10.06
0.832

Kinematic viscosity
(multiplied by (10-6)
(m2/s )
Tube
400/90

Tube
200/V172

1.0110-5
1.0110-5
1.0210-5
1.0110-5
1.0110-5

8.4110-7
8.0810-7
8.3810-7
8.2010-7
8.3210-7

Temperature at 78 C

No
of
Test

1
2
3
4
5

Time UTM-LTM (min- Multiplyin

g
sec)
calibratio
n
Tube
Tube
constant
400/90 200/V172
52.57
47.03
45.05
46.04
46.38

4.54
4.68
4.60
4.70
4.39

0.101400
0.101400
0.101400
0.101400
0.101400

Kinematic
viscosity,
v (centistock,
cST), (mm2/s).
Tube
Tube
200/V17
400/90
2
5.33
0.460
4.77
0.475
4.57
0.466
4.67
0.477
4.71
0.445

Kinematic viscosity
(multiplied by (10-6)
(m2/s )
Tube
400/90

Tube
200/V172

5.3310-6
4.7710-6
4.5710-6
4.6710-6
4.7110-6

4.6010-7
4.7510-7
4.6610-7
4.7710-7
4.4510-7

The table below is the summaries of important data needed in this experiment.
Collected from 6 table shown above.

Page 6 of 10

Temperature
(C)
23
27
36
46
56
78

Average Kinematic
Viscosity, v
(centistock, Cst),
(mm2/s)
400/90
200/V172
62.12
3.122
47.21
2.469
28.65
1.889
16.28
1.215
10.11
0.828
4.81
0.465

Average Kinematic
Viscosity (multiplied by
10-6) (m2/s)
400/90
6.2110-5
4.7210-5
2.8710-5
1.6310-5
1.0110-5
4.8110-6

200/V172
3.1210-6
2.4710-6
1.8910-6
1.2210-6
8.2810-7
4.6510-7

Multiplying
calibration
constant
0.101840
0.101808
0.101733
0.101650
0.101600
0.101400

1.6 Analysis and calculation

It is given that the calibration constants :
Temperature (C)
40C
100C

Multiplying calibration constant

0.1017
0.1012

To determine the calibration constants of each temperature, interpolation are used:100T

T 40

0.1012C
C0.1017

For example, calibration constant at 23C is calculated as below:

10023
2340

0.1012C
C0.1017

0.1012C

-4.5294 = C0.1017
C = 0.101840
When each temperature has been interpolated, the obtain Multiplying calibration
constant is shown as below:Temperature (C)
23
27
36
46
56
78

Multiplying calibration constant

0.101840
0.101808
0.101733
0.101650
0.101600
0.101400
Page 7 of 10

Calibration Oil, RL102/6 (Tube 400/90)

Experimental
Given

Figure 1.4 Comparison of experimental and given values of viscosity for calibration oil RL
106/8.

Page 8 of 10

Calibration Oil, RL102/6(Tube 200/V172)

Experimental
Given

Figure 1.5 Comparison of experimental and given values of viscosity for calibration oil RL
102/6.

1.7 Discussion:
Page 9 of 10

Base on the graph we obtain from the experimental and theoretical (given) values,
we can see that the experimental value is far less than theoretical (given) values,
such that the line below than the expected result.
However I noticed that the experimental follows the trend of the line of the than
theoretical (given) values. This error may cause by the equipment used or the
calibration oil itself. This may contribute to lower kinematic viscosity value and
hence affecting the line of the graph.
However, I manage to get the comparison successfully.

This inaccuracy/error between the calculated and theoretical reactions values, can
cause by various factors:
1. Equipment error.
2. The surface tube may exposed to external pressure when draws the
calibration oil through the bulb
3. Inconsistent temperature of the water bath.
4. The tube may be contaminated by other calibration oil which may has been
used in the past experiment. This contribute to lower kinematic viscosity of
the current calibration oil.
However, this inaccuracy can be reduced by considering these factors:
1.
2.
3.
4.

1.8

Use new equipment that are less than 3 years old.

Carry in pressure controlled room.
Clean out or simply replace the medium liquid inside the bath tank.
Clean the inside or simply replace with Standard Calibrated Glass Capillary
Viscometers.

Conclusion:
Overall experiment is a success. We manage to carry out and use the equipment
during the experiment successfully and obtain the value for kinematic viscosity
which are following the theoretical line trend. Despite that these viscosities are not
accurate as its supposed to be.
Judging on the values that we obtain, the accuracy of the experimental result may
be increase if the factors in reducing the inaccuracy is taken in account.

Page 10 of 10