Nanyang Technological University

School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Division of Physics and Applied Physics

PAP 118 Physics Lab Ia

PHYS1P Physics Lab I
Experiment 1: Motion in a Viscous Medium

Background
Fluid resistance is dened as the force that a uid (i.e. a gas or a liquid) exerts on a body moving
through it. The moving body exerts a force on the uid to push it out of the way. By Newtons third
law, the uid pushes back on the body with an equal and opposite force. In this experiment, you will
study the viscous drag on a body falling in a viscous medium and test Stokes law for such motion.
Suppose we consider a sphere falling in a viscous liquid as shown in Figure 1. The forces acting
on the sphere comprises the force due to gravity mg, the force due to the buoyancy of the liquid B,
and the force due to the uid resistance acting on the sphere f . The direction of the uid resistance
force acting on the sphere is always opposite to the direction of the spheres velocity relative to the
uid.

Figure 1: Free-body diagram for a body falling downward through a uid.

The magnitude of the uid resistance force usually increases with the speed of the sphere through
the uid. At low speeds, the magnitude f of the resisting force of the liquid is approximately proportional to the spheres speed v,
f = kv,
(1)
where k is a proportionality constant that depends on the shape and size of the body and the properties
of the uid. Equation (1) is known as Stokes law, and the proportionality constant is given by k =
6r, where is the viscosity of the liquid, and r is the radius of the sphere.
Taking the positive y-direction to be downward, and considering the buoyant force B associated
with buoyancy of the sphere in the uid, we obtain from Newtons second law
dv
.
dt
At terminal velocity, vT , the acceleration becomes zero and from Equation (2), we obtain
mg kv B = m

(2)

mg B
.
k
k

(3)

vT =

With this equation, it is possible to measure k (and hence the viscosity ) indirectly, from a direct
measurement of the terminal velocity vT .

Apparatus
CAUTION: Do not pour away the detergent at the end of your experiment. Do not dilute the
detergent with water.
1. Plastic column and retorts stands
2. Electronic balance
3. Beads of dierent sizes - small, medium, big
4. Small beaker
5. Vernier caliper
6. Detergent (Mama Lemon dishwashing liquid)
7. Meter rule
8. Stopwatch

Procedures
Part I - Preliminary Observations
1. Pour some of the detergent in a small beaker and place it on the electronic balance. Press the
Tare button.
2. Suspend one of the beads from a string and immerse it in the liquid, holding the string with
your hand. The bead should not touch the container. Record the reading on the balance, R1.
3. Lower the bead to the bottom so that it sits on the bottom. Record the reading on the balance,
R2.
4. Lift the bead up again, such that it is in condition 2, record the reading on the balance R3.
5. Next, quickly drop and raise the bead in the liquid, (not touching the sides), observe the reading
on the balance, R4 (this value is decreasing).
6. Lastly, release the bead so that it drops through the liquid. Observe the reading on the balance,
R5 (this value is increasing).
Explain in your laboratory note book and your guided report what physical forces R1, R2, and R3
correspond to? In your laboratory note book and your guided report, also explain your observations
in steps 5 and 6.

Part II - Measurement of the terminal velocity and the determination of the

viscosity of Mama Lemon dishwashing liquid.

Figure 2: Equipment setup for the bead drop.

1. Set up the experiment as shown in Figure 2. The beads come in three dierent sizes. Select the
smallest bead and weigh it.
2. Try to drop it into the column in the center. Measure the positions x of the bead at dierent
times t. Based on these measurements, determine the terminal velocity vT of the bead.

3. Repeat step 2 using beads of dierent sizes. For each bead size, repeat your measurements at
least ve times.
4. Using these data, and taking the density of the detergent to be 1.207 g/cm3 at 25C, determine
the viscosity of the detergent. Compare your value with the reference value of 1410 centipoise
(cps). [1 centipoise = 1 millipascal-second (mPa s)]

Recommended Readings
Serway & Jewett, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 6th edition. Chapter 14.4, Buoyant
Forces and Archimedess Principle.