Physics IA 3 Raw Data Measurement Quantity Internal Diameter of the capillary Tube Internal Diameter of the burette Length

of the burette from Length from the mark to the capillary tube Length of the capillary tube Values 0.00279m 0.01100m 0.524m Average Value 0.00280m 0.01100m 0.525m Uncertainty

0.750m

0.751m

0.169m

0.169m

Temperature Volume of the water flowed out 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 6.9 14.2 21.9 30.1 38.8 48.2 58.7 70.0 83.1 99.1 6.9 14.3 22.0 30.1 38.9 48.2 58.6 70.2 83.1 99.1 Time 7.1 14.3 21.9 30.2 38.9 48.3 58.7 70.1 83.2 99.2 7.1 14.2 22.1 30.2 38.9 48.3 58.7 70.8 83.1 99.2 7.0 14.3 22.0 30.2 38.9 48.3 58.7 70.3 83.1 99.2

Processed Data Formula used to convert volume of the water flowed out above the capillary tube : to the vertical height of the water level

0.699 0.646 0.594 0.541

0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002

7.0 14.3 22.0 30.2

0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

0.489 0.436 0.384 0.331 0.279 0.226 For the 1st data set,

0.002 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003

38.9 48.3 58.7 70.3 83.1 99.2

0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

Let

, then ( )

Following are the values of obtained for various heights from the graph above (method to calculate is demonstrated in the graph for .

From the given graph of viscosity against temperature in the question paper, we found that the viscosity at is . From the given formula below, we can calculate the theoretical value of :

Hence theoretical value of

Theoretical Experimental Comparing the theoretical value with the experimental value we come to the conclusion that the theoretical formula provided to obtain wrong (and that is why there is no calculation of percentage error). It doesnt make physical sense to think of water level to be halved in 0.071s. This would mean that the flow rate through the capillary tube is tremendously high which is physically impossible given the very small diameter of the capillary tube. At such a small diameter, the viscosity that is the resistance of the water to flow will be very high hence it is unlikely that the water will flow with a very high flow rate. This is also confirmed during the experiment as the water flowing out of the capillary tube was only dropping not flowing in a continuous flow which would be the case if the flow rate is high.

Another possible reason why the formula could be wrong is because it does not take into account of the radius of the nozzle of the burette. The wider the radius of the nozzle, the greater will be the flow rate. Hence the lower will be the value of obtained. We cannot be sure of whether there are significant systematic errors in the experiment because we dont have a theoretical value of the flow rate to be compared against. However based on the observations we can infer there are still some systematic errors. Firstly, there was water leaking out of the tubing connecting the burette and the capillary tube. This would affect the half time and hence the flow rate through the capillary tube as we are measuring the flow rate through capillary tube by measuring the rate at which the water level falls in the burette. Hence, the underlying assumption of this whole setup is that whatever water flows through the burette must flow through capillary tube too. Due to the water loss at the capillary tube and the burette junction it is likely that value of will be less than actual value and hence flow rate obtained will be higher than actual value. At the capillary tube and the burette junction there is likely to be turbulence in the water flow. The flow rate determined found using this method assumes that that there is continuous laminar flow throughout the liquid. Hence this is also another demerit of the setup. Air bubbles were seen to be flown along with the water in the capillary tube. This affects the flow rate by reducing the volume rate because the some volume of the water is replaced with air and hence it affects the readings by reducing the flow rate and increasing value of obtained. In order to improve on this error, we can allow the water to flow for sometime through the whole system which will remove all the air first. Then we will add some more water to the burette for the water level to go back to original level. The burette was not completely vertical as it was difficult to maintain the correct orientation in every dimension. This will reduce the rate of flow and hence increase the value of obtained. In order to counter this problem, one could use the retort stand suited particularly for the burette as found in the chemistry laboratory. The random error in the experiment comes from using stopwatch. Sometimes it is possible that one presses the stopwatch before the level reach the certain mark and the other time after the water level reaches the mark. Also since the water level is falling, it is hard to look at the level from exactly horizontal position. When the water starts from zero mark, its level is high up compared to our eyes. As it falls, we have to make sure that we move our eye along with the level for accurate measurement of height against time. However it is not possible to move our eye at the same pace of water and hence it is possible that at some point the water level is above our eye level and at another it is below. Hence in order to avoid these random errors due to parallax and human reaction time, we can record a video of the experiment and then analyze it frame by frame using a video analysis software. If the abovementioned errors are rectified, more accurate and precise data can be obtained. However, given the fact that the correct theoretical value is not known, it is possible that some of the systematic error might have been overlooked because we are not able to tell how accurate the experiment results are.