science experiments viscosity of liquids

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Primary science investigations

• 2 Air pressure and the antigravity bottle
• 3 Air pressure, gases and the leaky bottle
• 4 Dissolving, density and ‘heavy’ sugar
• 5 Fizzy irreversible changes and bath bombs
• 6 Irreversible changes and the ‘fire extinguisher’
• 7 Irreversible changes and the ‘freaky hand’
• 8 Properties of gases, air pressure and ‘sticky’ cups
• 9 Properties of solids and ‘biscuit bashing’
• 10 Viscosity and ‘racing’ liquids
• 11 Freezing and the ‘intriguing ice’ experiment
• 12 Liquids, gases and the ‘lava lamp’

Viscosity and ‘racing’ liquids

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Try this investigation to help learners compare the properties of different liquids and practise setting up a fair test

This resource is also available in Welsh and Irish

Get the Welsh language version .

Get the Irish language version .

This experiment focuses on the viscosity of different liquids. First watch the ‘racing liquids’ demonstration video, then find out how your learners can race different liquids and order them by their viscosity.

Learning objectives 

• To understand that viscosity is a measure of a liquid’s resistance to flow.
• To recognise viscosity as a useful property of liquids.
• To understand that liquids can be ordered by their viscosity.

Enquiry skills:

• Be able to set up a comparative test to consider how different types of liquid flow at different speeds.
• To recognise that a comparative/fair test has variables which can be changed and controlled.
• To record observations and explain what has been found.

Watch the video

The video below shows how to carry out the ‘racing liquids’ demonstration.

Source: Royal Society of Chemistry

'Race' liquids to investigate their viscosity with primary students.

Download the supporting materials

Set up and run the investigation with your class using the teacher notes and classroom slides, featuring a full equipment list, method, key words and definitions, questions for learners, FAQs and more.

• Teacher notes

PDF  |  Editable Word document

Classroom slides

PDF  |  Editable PowerPoint document

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What do learners need to know first?

Learners should know that force (a push or a pull) on an object can change its shape or movement.

They should understand that friction occurs when materials rub against each other to oppose motion.

Learners should have been introduced to comparative or fair testing. They should be aware of what can be changed (the ‘variables’) and whether this might make a difference to the outcome.

They should understand that changing one variable (the independent variable) may have an effect on another (the dependent variable).

Equipment list 

A selection of household liquids. Ideally these will be similar in colour (eg yellow). You should place 100–150 ml (approx. ¼ of a small cup) of each liquid in plastic cups in preparation for the investigation.

Examples might include:

• Syrup/treacle
• Liquid soap
• Tomato ketchup
• Brown/other sauces
• Hair conditioner
• Water (you could colour this to be more similar in colour to the other liquids used)
• Cooking Oil

Clear plastic cups. Tape these together with a measured amount of liquid in the bottom cup. Ensure that they are well sealed so that liquid cannot escape.

Additional resources

• Investigate the properties of liquids further in our intriguing ice investigation , or compare the properties of solids and liquids in our biscuit bashing investigation .
• Try particle disco from our collection of  video demonstrations exploring liquids .
• Read up on solids, liquids and gases in this That’s Chemistry! textbook chapter .
• Introduce your learners to solids, liquids and gases with our  primary science podcast . 
• Learn all about water using our life of water resources .

Racing liquids: teacher notes

Racing liquids: classroom slides, additional information.

Primary science investigations were developed in collaboration with the Primary Science Teaching Trust

Air pressure and the antigravity bottle

Air pressure, gases and the leaky bottle

Dissolving, density and ‘heavy’ sugar

Fizzy irreversible changes and bath bombs

Irreversible changes and the ‘fire extinguisher’

Irreversible changes and the ‘freaky hand’

Properties of gases, air pressure and ‘sticky’ cups

Properties of solids and ‘biscuit bashing’

Freezing and the ‘intriguing ice’ experiment

Liquids, gases and the ‘lava lamp’

• Practical experiments
• Properties of matter
• Designing experiments
• Recording data

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Viscosity Experiment With Marbles

Learn about the viscosity of fluids with a simple viscosity experiment. Grab some marbles and determine which will fall to the bottom first. We love  science experiments  that are fun and easy to do!

What Is Viscosity?

Friction is a force that is created when there is motion between two solid objects. Liquids can also have friction. This internal friction is called viscosity .

All liquids have different viscosities, which means some liquids flow more easily than others. Viscosity is a physical property of fluids. The word viscous comes from the Latin word viscum, meaning sticky. It describes how fluids resist flow or how “thick” or “thin” they are.

Viscosity is affected by what the fluid is made of and the temperature of it. For example, water has a low viscosity, as it is “thin.” Hair gel is much more viscous than oil and significantly more than water!

Learn about the viscosity of fluids by having a marble race. Try this fun marble drop experiment below! You could even turn it into an easy viscosity science project.

• Clear glasses
• Various liquids (water, syrup, honey, oil)
• Ruler (optional)
• Printable Instructions (see below)

Instructions:

STEP 1: Fill your glasses with your various liquids. Make sure they are all filled to the same level.

Learn more about using the scientific method for kids.

STEP 2: Place your ruler on top of your glasses and then place the marbles on top.

STEP 3: Tip your ruler toward you to release all of the marbles into your glasses at the exact same time.

STEP 4: Watch closely to see which marble reaches the bottom of the glass first. Did you guess which marble would win?

Using The Scientific Method

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is tested with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity.

Sounds heavy… What in the world does that mean?!? It means you don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As children develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.

LEARN MORE HERE: Using The Scientific Method with Kids

Note: The use of the best Science and Engineering Practices is also relevant to the topic of using the scientific method. Read more here and see if it fits your science planning needs.

Helpful Science Resources

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students. Then you can feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• 8 Science Books for Kids
• All About Scientists
• Science Supplies List
• Science Tools for Kids
• Join us in the Club

FREE printable viscosity science project!

More Fun Viscosity Experiments To Try

Kids can use common household materials to try more viscosity experiments!

1. Cornstarch and Water: Oobleck!

Mix cornstarch with water in a bowl until you get a gooey substance. Have the kids try to stir the mixture slowly and then quickly. Discuss how the mixture behaves differently at different speeds, demonstrating its non-Newtonian properties.

2. Honey and Syrup Races

Fill two identical containers with honey and syrup. Have the kids tip the containers simultaneously, observe, and discuss which one flows faster. This demonstrates the different viscosities of honey and syrup.

3. Oil and Water Exploration

Fill a transparent container with water and drop some cooking oil into it. Observe how the oil forms droplets and floats on the water due to its lower viscosity. Discuss why the oil and water don’t mix.

Extend this viscosity experiment with alka seltzer tables. See lava lamp experiment.

4. Bubble Fun with Dish Soap

Mix dish soap with water to create a bubble solution. Use different amounts of soap to create solutions with varying viscosities. Have the kids blow bubbles and observe how the size and stability of the bubbles change with different soap concentrations.

Check out more bubble science experiments kids will love!

5. Ketchup vs. Mustard Race

Fill two squeeze bottles, one with ketchup and the other with mustard. Have the kids squeeze both bottles onto a plate and observe and discuss which condiment has a higher viscosity.

6. Molasses Pouring

Pour molasses or honey onto a plate and observe its slow flow. Discuss how molasses has a higher viscosity compared to water.

7. Dropper Races

Fill two droppers with liquids of different viscosities, such as water and honey. Challenge the kids to squeeze the droppers and observe how fast the liquids come out. Discuss the differences in flow rate.

8. Hot and Cold Syrup

Heat one container of syrup and keep another at room temperature. Compare the viscosity of the warm and cold syrup by pouring them onto a plate. Discuss how temperature can affect viscosity.

More Fun Science Experiments

• Magic Milk Experiment
• Self Inflating Balloon Experiment
• Egg in Vinegar Experiment
• Mentos and Coke Experiment
• Pop Rocks Viscosity Experiment
• Water Density Experiment

Printable Science Projects For Kids

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

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Viscosity Science Experiments

How to Find the Volume of a Penny

Viscosity is the thickness of a liquid or its resistance to flow. Fluids with lower viscosity are referred to as thin liquids and those with higher viscosity as thick liquids. Friction between the molecules in a liquid causes viscosity. Basic viscosity experiments compare the viscosity of different liquids, the shape of the drops of liquids of different thicknesses and the effects of temperature and sugar on viscosity.

Compare Viscosity

Experiments to compare the relative viscosities of different liquids involve timing the fall of an object through a cylinder of the liquid. Use a long, glass cylinder with measurements clearly marked on its side. Place a small wad of cotton or other soft material on the inside at the bottom of the cylinder to protect it. Fill it with water to the top mark and drop a steel ball bearing into the liquid. Time how long the bearing takes to drop to the bottom of the container. Replace the water with liquids of different thicknesses, such as corn syrup or a mixture of glycerin and water, and repeat the experiment. Relate the time taken for the bearing to descend to the thickness or viscosity of the liquid.

Shape of Drops

A property related to a liquid's viscosity is the shape of the drops that it forms. The hypothesis is that liquids of higher viscosity form drops with longer "tails" than lower viscosity liquids. Collect a selection of liquids of differing viscosity and put each of them in turn into a pipette. Place a sheet of graph paper behind the pipette and squeeze the pipette bulb so that a drop of liquid emerges. Take a photo of the drop. Compare the photos and relate the shape of the drop to the viscosity of the liquid.

Effect of Temperature

Temperature affects the viscosity of a liquid. Drill a hole in the bottom of a metal measuring cup, cover it and add 1 cup of water at 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Uncover the hole and time how long it takes for the water to empty from the cup. Repeat this with water heated to 30, 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit and compare the findings. To extend this experiment, repeat the entire procedure with a different liquid, such as milk or corn syrup.

Adding Sugar

You can test liquids to see if the viscosity of a liquid changes with the addition of sugar. Dissolve 1 ounce of sugar into 1 cup of water and pour it into a metal cup with a hole in the bottom. Uncover the hole and record how long it takes for all of the liquid to leave the cup. Repeat this with mixtures of water and 2 ounces, 3 ounces and so on of sugar. Compare the results to find that the sugar increases the viscosity of the water and reduces its rate of flow.

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• Stanford University; A Simple Viscosity Test; Giresh Gooray
• All Science Fair Projects; Does the Viscosity of Liquids Affect the Shape of Droplets Abstract Stephanie Rotan

About the Author

Christina Ash has been writing since 1982, throughout her career as a computer consultant, anthropologist and small-business owner. She has published work in various business, technology, academia and popular books and journals. Ash has degrees in computer science, anthropology and science and technology studies from universities in England, Canada and the United States.

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Science project, how to measure viscosity of liquids.

The frozen waffle you put in the toaster just popped out, but your maple syrup is still in the fridge. You squeeze the syrup container, but it takes forever to flow out of the bottle! Why?

This sticky situation illustrates a property of liquids called viscosity . Viscosity is the measure of how resistant a substance is to flowing. The slower a liquid flows, the higher its viscosity. Remember—a liquid is a state of matter that has a definite volume, but not a definite shape. You probably have a qualitative understanding of relative viscosities of different liquids, meaning you can describe them pretty well just by watching them. Scientists like to be quantitative when they describe something’s behavior—they use numbers! Can we find a way to quantitatively how much faster water flows than syrup?

In this investigation, you are going to make your own tool for measuring viscosity, called a viscometer , and use it to compare the viscosities of liquids you find around your home.

How can viscosity be measured?

• Clear plastic dishwashing detergent bottle with a pull-out top
• Sharp scissors
• Adult helper
• Permanent marker
• Modeling clay
• Container with a top slightly smaller than the top of your dishwashing detergent bottle
• Watch or timer that can measure seconds
• Assortment of liquids, including water, all at the same temperature
• Ask your adult helper to use the sharp scissors to cut off the bottom of the detergent bottle.
• Remove the label, and thoroughly rinse the inside of the bottle. Make sure to run some water through the pull-cap, too.
• Use your ruler to measure one inch below where you cut off the bottom. Draw a line, and label this line Start.
• Use your ruler to measure 4 inches below your first line. Draw a line, and label this line Stop.
• Close the pull-out top.
• Make a thick ring of modeling clay and place it around the top of the bottle.
• Place the detergent bottle upside down on the container. The bottle should rest comfortably on the clay. Do not seal the bottle against the clay. If you block all air from moving out of the container, your viscometer will not work correctly.
• Test water first.
• Fill your bottle to about 1/2 inch above your start line.
• Lift up the bottle, pull the top open, and immediately set back on top of the jar.
• Start timing when the water level has reached the Start line.
• Stop timing when the water level reaches the Stop line.
• Record your results in a data table. Perform multiple trials for each liquid tested and take the average time for each of them. Why do you think this helps us get a more accurate measurement? What factors do you think might cause you to get different times for the same liquid?
• Your data table might look like this:

• You calculate the average by adding up the time for the three trials and dividing by 3.
• Repeat this procedure for as many liquids as you like. Just make sure all of them are the same temperature. Why do you think keeping temperature the same is important? What happens to a liquid’s viscosity as its temperature rises?
• Once you have calculated average times for several liquids, you can calculate a viscosity index for each so that you can easily compare them with each other. The formula for viscosity index is:
• For instance, if your average flow rate for water was 20 seconds and corn oil took 600 seconds (5 minutes) to flow out of the viscometer, than the viscosity index for corn oil is 30. That means it is 30 times more viscous than water. Why do you think the viscosity index uses the viscosity of water for comparison?
• You might make another table with the liquids and viscosity indexes, or you could add another column to your first table.

The actual times for the liquids will depend on the size of your viscometer and the temperature of your liquids. Your viscosity index for maple syrup should be 150-200 times that of water.  Most shampoos have 10-100 times the viscosity of water.

Viscosity is caused by friction within the liquid. Friction is the resistance one object encounters when moving over another. You probably remember that all matter, including liquids, is made of molecules. Water is composed of small simple molecules (H 2 0).  These molecules can move past each other easily and quickly. Maple syrup, on the other hand, has a complex molecular structure—it’s composed of many different types of molecules, many of which are quite large. These big molecules do not move easily past one another, and they are often tangled together, giving syrup a much higher viscosity.

The viscosity of a liquid depends on the temperature. Increasing temperature usually decreases viscosity because the molecules have more energy to move past each other, and there is less intertwining. Water is used as the basis for the viscosity index because we are all familiar with how fast it moves.

You can test all kinds of liquids—but for some of them, like ketchup, be prepared to wait a very long time!

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Experimental determination of viscosity (viscometer)

Viscometry is the experimental determination of the viscosity of liquids and gases with so-called viscometers.

Definition of viscosity (Newton’s law of fluid friction)

Viscosity describes the internal resistance to flow of a fluid (internal friction). It is defined by the shear stress τ required to shift two plates moving relative to each other. The higher the relative velocity Δv of the plates and the smaller the distance Δy between the plates, the greater the shear stress. The proportionality constant between these quantities is the (dynamic) viscosity η. This law is also known as Newton’s law of fluid friction:

\begin{align} \label{t} &\boxed{\tau= \eta \cdot \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta y}} ~~~&&\text{Newton’s law of fluid friction}\\[5px] &{\tau=\frac{F}{A}} ~~~&&\text{ shear stress} \\[5px] \end{align}

More detailed information on viscosity and Newton’s law of fluid friction can be found in the article Viscosity .

Rotational viscometer

The confinement of a fluid between two plates to define the viscosity is a very descriptive procedure, but is hardly feasible in practice. How should the fluid be held within the gap between two plates? In practice, therefore, a spindle is used which rotates at a constant speed in a cylindrical vessel. The vessel contains the fluid whose viscosity is to be determined. Such an apparatus for determining the viscosity is also called a rotational viscometer .

Depending on the viscosity, the drive of the spindle requires a certain torque. The higher the viscosity, the greater the torque required to keep the rotational speed constant. This torque is measured directly at the motor and can be used to determine the viscosity after an appropriate calibration. However, the rotational speed must not be selected too high, because at too high speeds no laminar flow is developed but a turbulent flow .

Falling sphere viscometer

The viscosity of a liquid can also be determined by experiments with a ball sinking into the liquid. The speed at which a ball sinks to the ground in a fluid is directly dependent on the viscosity of the fluid. The fluids used are mainly liquids.

The physicist George Gabriel Stokes derived the following equation, which shows the relationship between the speed v at which a sphere of radius r is drawn through a fluid of viscosity η and the resulting frictional force F f :

\begin{align} \label{s} &\boxed{F_f = 6\pi \cdot r \cdot \eta \cdot v} ~~~\text{Stokes’ law of friction} \\[5px] \end{align}

Note that Stoke’s law only applies to spherical bodies that are laminar flowed around!

If a ball is dropped in a viscous liquid, the speed increases at first until the opposing frictional force is as great as the weight force of the ball. For more accurate measurements, the upward buoyant force must also be taken into account. All three forces balance each other in the steady case and a constant sinking speed is obtained:

\begin{align} \label{gg} &F_g \overset{!}{=} F_f + F_b \\[5px] \end{align}

The weight force F g of the ball can be determined via the volume V b and the density of the ball ϱ b :

\begin{align} \label{g} &F_g = m_b \cdot g = V_b \cdot \rho_b \cdot g= \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3 \cdot \rho_b \cdot g\\[5px] \end{align}

The buoyant force F b is determined on the basis of the Archimedes’ principle from the weight force of the displaced liquid, whereby the displaced volume corresponds exactly to the volume of the ball:

\begin{align} \label{a} &F_b = m_f \cdot g = V_b \cdot \rho_f \cdot g= \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3 \cdot \rho_f \cdot g \\[5px] \end{align}

If one now uses the equations (\ref{s}), (\ref{g}) and (\ref{a}) and put them into equation (\ref{gg}), then the viscosity η of the liquid can be determined from its sinking speed v s :

\begin{align} &F_g \overset{!}{=} F_f + F_b \\[5px] &\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3 \cdot \rho_b \cdot g = 6\pi \cdot r \cdot \eta \cdot v_\text{s} + \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3 \cdot \rho_f \cdot g \\[5px] &6\pi \cdot r \cdot \eta \cdot v_\text{s} = \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3 \cdot \rho_b \cdot g ~- \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3 \cdot \rho_f \cdot g \\[5px] &6\pi \cdot r \cdot \eta \cdot v_\text{s} = \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3 g \left(\rho_b-\rho_f\right) \\[5px] \label{e} &\boxed{\eta = \frac{2r^2g}{9~ v_\text{s}}\left(\rho_b-\rho_f\right) } ~~~~~r \ll R\\[5px] \end{align}

When performing the experiment, however, the sink rate must not be too high. On the one hand, because then it cannot be ensured that a state of equilibrium has been reached before the ball hits the ground. On the other hand, a laminar flow around the ball must always be assured, which is not the case at high speeds, as turbulence is then created.

Furthermore, the radius R of the cylindrical tube should be large compared to the radius r of the ball falling within it, otherwise there will be flow effects between the ball and the tube wall that can no longer be neglected. This results in additional friction of the liquid flowing past and a reduction in the sinking speed of the ball (principle of hydraulic damping). Due to the finite radius of the tube, the sinking speed of the ball is therefore always measured too small in practice. Therefore, the sinking velocity is corrected with an empirical correction factor L (called Ladenburg factor ):

\begin{align} \label{h} &\boxed{\eta = \frac{2r^2g}{9 ~v_\text{s} \cdot L}\left(\rho_b-\rho_f\right) } ~~~\text{where}~~~ \boxed{L=1+2.1 \frac{r}{R}}>1 \\[5px] \end{align}

In practice, the correction factor is usually determined in advance of the test using a liquid of known viscosity.

Falling sphere viscometer by Höppler

The falling ball viscometer by Höppler is based on the falling sphere method described in the previous section. A ball falls to the ground in a tube which contains the liquid to be examined. Two markings are attached to the tube which indicate a defined measuring distance Δs (“falling distance”). The time Δt required for the ball to pass through this measuring distance is measured by means of light barriers. The speed of descent v s of the sphere is therefore given by the following formula:

\begin{align} & v_\text{s} = \frac{\Delta s}{\Delta t}\\[5px] \end{align}

If the formula for the rate of descent is used in equation (\ref{h}), the viscosity η of the liquid can be determined with the following formula:

\begin{align} &\eta = \underbrace{\color{red}{\frac{2r^2g}{9 \cdot \Delta s \cdot L}}}_{\text{constant}~ \color{red}{C}} \cdot \left(\rho_b-\rho_f\right) \cdot \Delta t\\[5px] \label{eta} &\boxed{\eta = C \cdot \left(\rho_b-\rho_f\right) \cdot \Delta t } \\[5px]\\[5px] \end{align}

The term marked in red is a specific constant of the measuring apparatus, which also depends on the test sphere used. Depending on the viscosity to be expected, the manufacturers of Höppler viscometers provide various balls for which the test constant C has been determined in advance.

This constant also takes into account that the tube is not exactly vertical, but inclined. Therefore the ball sinks not only by falling, but also by rolling. This rolling motion guides the test ball stably downwards. In this way, turbulence in the liquid is avoided and the validity of Stokes’ Law is ensured, i.e. in particular the proportionality between frictional force and sinking speed. In the case of turbulent flow, the frictional force would no longer be proportional to the sinking speed and the viscosity would no longer be a linear function of the duration of the fall – equation (\ref{eta}) would no longer be valid.

In order to study the temperature influence on the viscosity, the tube is usually placed in another tube filled with water. Circulating thermostats can be used to precisely control the temperature of the water bath and thus the liquid to be examined.

Capillary viscometer by Ubbelohde

The capillary viscometer is based on the Hagen-Poiseuille law for pipe flows. This law states that the volumetric flow rate V* through a capillary is dependent on the viscosity η of the liquid flowing through (assumed that the flow is fully developed):

\begin{align} &\boxed{\dot V = – \frac{\pi R^4}{8 l \eta}\Delta p } \\[5px] \end{align}

In this equation, R denotes the radius of the capillary and l its length. The pressure difference Δp corresponds to the pressure drop between the beginning and end of the capillary, which ultimately causes the flow of the liquid. Below the capillary is an L-shaped tube so that the same ambient pressure applies above and below the capillary. Thus the liquid is driven only by the hydrostatic pressure . The pressure drop Δp is thus dependent on the density of the liquid.

The volumetric flow rate through the capillary can be determined by measuring time and mass that has flowed through. However, manufacturers of capillary viscometers usually summarize the device-dependent variables such as radius and length of the capillary in a constant C. Thus, only the time period t has to be determined within which the liquid in the reservoir has passed two marks. In addition, the density of the fluid ϱ f is required, since this determines the pressure drop in the Hagen-Poiseuille law. With the following formula the viscosity η can then be determined:

\begin{align} &\boxed{\eta= C \cdot \rho_f \cdot (t-t_c)} \\[5px] \end{align}

As already mentioned, the Hagen-Poiseuille law only applies to a fully developed flow. At transition from reservoir to capillary (and up to some degree also within the capillary) however, the flow is not yet fully developed, but is accelerated. The energy required to accelerate the fluid means an additional pressure drop. To take this into account, the measured time is therefore corrected by a so-called Hagenbach correction time t c .

Dip cup viscometer

A very simple method for determining viscosity is the dip cup viscometer . This method makes use of the fact that the discharge of a liquid through a hole in a vessel also depends on the viscosity. Due to the high flow resistance, highly viscous liquids take a relatively long time to flow out through a hole in the dip cup . For a given cup volume, the time required to discharge the liquid is therefore a direct measure of viscosity.

Manufacturers of dip cups list the corresponding viscosity in their data sheets depending on the discharge time. Depending on the viscosity to be expected, different dip cups are to be used. In order to obtain valid results, the discharge time must also be within a certain range. If this is not the case, another dip cup must be used.

The dip cup viscosimeter is mainly used to determine the viscosity of paints or lacquers. These liquids would otherwise heavily contaminate conventional viscometers. Furthermore, very fast results are obtained with a dip cup viscometer, so that paints or lacquers can be checked and further processed immediately after mixing.

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Derivation of the continuity equation (conservation of mass)

Viscosity of an ideal gas

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• TeachEngineering
• Measuring Viscosity

Hands-on Activity Measuring Viscosity

Grade Level: 9 (8-10)

Time Required: 1 hours 15 minutes

Expendable Cost/Group: US $1.00

Group Size: 3

Activity Dependency: Viscous Fluids

Subject Areas: Algebra, Biology, Chemistry, Measurement, Physical Science, Physics, Reasoning and Proof

Curriculum in this Unit Units serve as guides to a particular content or subject area. Nested under units are lessons (in purple) and hands-on activities (in blue). Note that not all lessons and activities will exist under a unit, and instead may exist as "standalone" curriculum.

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Engineering connection, learning objectives, materials list, worksheets and attachments, more curriculum like this, introduction/motivation, vocabulary/definitions, troubleshooting tips, activity extensions, activity scaling, user comments & tips.

Engineers often design devices that transport fluids, use fluids for lubrication, or operate in environments that contain fluids. Thus, engineers must understand how fluids behave under various conditions. Understanding fluid behavior can help engineers to select the optimal fluids to operate in devices or to design devices that are able to successfully operate in environments that contain fluids.

After this activity, students should be able to:

• Measure the viscosity of a fluid.
• Describe a fluid as having "high" or "low" viscosity.

Educational Standards Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards. All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN) , a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org). In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g. , by state; within source by type; e.g. , science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc .

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Each group needs:

• graduated cylinder (the taller the better)
• marble or steel ball (must be half the diameter of the cylinder or smaller, and sink in the fluid being measured; the slower the ball sinks, the easier it is to measure the viscosity)
• Viscosity Activity Worksheet , one per person
• calculators
• Internet access, to research viscosities for one worksheet question

To share with the entire class:

• thick, somewhat clear household fluids, such as motor oil, corn syrup, pancake syrup, shampoo, liquid soap (perhaps a different fluid for each 1-2 groups), enough of each liquid to fill a graduated cylinder for each group that tests it
• scale, to measure the masses of graduated cylinders, with and without the liquids

Fluid mechanics is the study of how fluids react to forces. Fluid mechanics includes hydrodynamics, the study of force on liquids, and aerodynamics, the study of bodies moving through air. This encompasses a wide variety of applications. Can you think of any examples of engineering applications for which an understanding the behavior of fluids is important? (Listen to student ideas.) Environmental engineers use fluid mechanics to study pollution dispersion, forest fires, volcano behavior, weather patterns to aid in long-term weather forecasting, and oceanography. Mechanical engineers implement fluid mechanics when designing sports equipment such as golf balls, footballs, baseballs, road bikes and swimming gear. Bioengineers study medical conditions such as blood flow through an aneurysm. Aerospace engineers study gas turbines that launch space shuttles and civil engineers use fluid mechanics for dam design. Considering just these few examples of the wide variety of applications of fluid mechanics, you can see how fluid mechanics is important to understand for many types of engineering design in our world.

In this activity, we'll be measuring a property of fluids called viscosity. Viscosity describes how a fluid resists forces, or more specifically shear forces . Shear is the type of force that occurs when two objects slide parallel to one another. Since fluids are composed of many molecules that are all moving, these molecules exert a shear force on one another. Fluids with low viscosity have a low resistance to shear forces, and therefore the molecules flow quickly and are easy to move through. Can anyone name an example of a low-viscosity fluid? (Listen to student ideas.) One example is air! Another example is water. Fluids with high viscosity flow more slowly and are harder to move through. What are examples of high-viscosity fluids? (Listen to student ideas). One example of a high-viscosity fluid is honey.

Being able to re-arrange equations to find the unknowns is an important skill for engineers! In this activity, we will measure the viscosities of a few household fluids by dropping balls into them and measuring the terminal velocities.

Before the Activity

• Gather materials and make copies of the Viscosity Activity Worksheet .
• Be sure the ball sinks slowly enough in all of the fluids that a velocity measurement can be obtained. If the ball falls too quickly, it is hard to accurately start and stop the stopwatch.
• Divide the class into groups of three students each. Hand out the worksheets.

With the Students

• Have each group choose a fluid to measure the viscosity of (or assign each group a fluid).
• Have students calculate the density of the fluid.
• Weigh the empty graduated cylinder.
• Fill the cylinder with fluid, and record the volume.
• Weigh the full graduated cylinder. Subtract the mass of the empty graduated cylinder to determine the mass of the fluid.

Note: 1 cm 3 =1 ml.

• Have students measure the density of the sphere.
• Measure the radius of the ball. Record as r [cm].

Alternatively, place the sphere in a graduated cylinder half filled with water; the displacement of the water is equal to the volume of the sphere.

• Have students drop the ball into the fluid, timing the ball as it falls a measured distance.

(Note: Ideally students would wait for the ball to reach a constant velocity, however for this activity we assume the ball reaches terminal velocity very quickly, so that students can measure the time from when the ball enters the fluid until it reaches the cylinder bottom. For less-viscous, "thinner," fluids, this may be very quick).

where g is acceleration due to gravity (981 [cm/s 2 ]). The answer should be in units of kg/cm s, or mPa-s. For comparison, the viscosity of water is approximately 1 mPa-s.

• For accuracy, have students repeat the experiment and calculate an average viscosity.
• Have groups share, compare and discuss their results as a class by either writing the results in a table on the board or on a class overhead projector.

shear: A type of force that occurs when two objects slide parallel to one another.

terminal velocity: The point at which the force exerted by gravity on a falling object is equaled by a fluid's resistance to that force.

viscosity: A fluid's ability to resist forces.

Pre-Activity Assessment

Discussion Questions: Considering the fluids available for activity testing, ask students to estimate which liquid they think will have the highest viscosity. Which will have the lowest? Write their predictions on the board.

Activity Embedded Assessment

Worksheet : Have students complete the Viscosity Activity Worksheet during the activity. If time is limited, have them research online for viscosities of common household fluids (last question) as a homework assignment. Review their answers to gauge their comprehension of the subject matter.

Post-Activity Assessment

Graphing: Have students plot fluid density (independent) vs. viscosity (dependent). In addition, students could compare marbles of various diameters and describe patterns between fluid density and viscosity, and between fluid density and marble diamater. Students then determine if the model is linear, quadratic, or exponential; if linear, use the two-point method to determine the line of best fit.

Class Presentation: Have students share and discuss their measured/calculated viscosities with the class. Compare and discuss the class results with the predictions made before beginning the activity.

Safety Issues

• Do not allow students to drink the test fluids, especially after the fluids have been in contact with the graduated cylinders.
• After the activity, responsibly dispose of the used test fluids.
• Shampoo or dish soap may create a large amount of suds when cleaning the graduated cylinders.

If the marble falls too quickly through the fluid to obtain accurate timing, use a taller graduated cylinder or a lighter marble (or both!).

Viscosity changes with temperature! Have students measure the viscosity of a fluid at a few different temperatures and graph the viscosity (y-axis) vs. temperature (x-axis).

• For lower grades, just visually compare the times it takes the balls to fall through the fluids. Perhaps a viscosity race!
• For upper grades, try varying the temperature of a fluid (see the Activity Extension section).

tudents are introduced to the similarities and differences in the behaviors of elastic solids and viscous fluids. In addition, fluid material properties such as viscosity are introduced, along with the methods that engineers use to determine those physical properties.

Students are introduced to Pascal's law, Archimedes' principle and Bernoulli's principle. Fundamental definitions, equations, practice problems and engineering applications are supplied.

Students learn why engineers must understand tissue mechanics in order to design devices that will be implanted or used inside bodies, to study pathologies of tissues and how this alters tissue function, and to design prosthetics. Students learn about collagen, elastin and proteoglycans and their ro...

Contributors

Supporting program, acknowledgements.

The contents of these digital library curricula were developed by the Integrated Teaching and Learning Program under National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. 0338326. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Last modified: January 11, 2022

VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

By Janice VanCleave

Because liquid particles can move past each other, they can flow. This is very important when transporting liquids from one place to another through pipes or water ways.

VISCOSITY is a measure of the resistance of a liquid to flowing.

The viscosity of a liquid increases as the temperature of a liquid decreases.

This means that the colder the liquid the more difficult it is for the liquid to flow. In the diagram, the chilled red liquid is flowing very slowly. It flow is so slow that the liquid is moving out of the glass like a thick blob of ketchup.

This means that the warmer the liquid, the faster a liquid can flow.

As the viscosity of a liquid increases, the thicker is the liquid and the more sluggish is it ability to flow.

The colder ocean water is, the more viscous is the water.

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Exploring Viscosity with Common Household Liquids

Chemical Viscosity

Today’s lesson was all about viscosity. Viscosity is fluid friction, which we can describe as the interactions between molecules of a fluid that affect the rate at which that fluid is able to flow. Viscosity is related to the interactions between molecules and molecule size. Viscosity is also affected by temperature. Remember how friction works between solids: If you rub your hands together, you will notice that the friction between your hands causes some of the kinetic energy of the motion to be converted into heat energy, warming up your fingers!

For our activity, we tested the viscosities of five common fluids that you might find in the kitchen or bathroom cupboard. We made hypotheses about which fluids were more viscous and less viscous based on how they flow. We then set up a test of the viscosities of the different liquids by observing marbles flow through them and measuring the velocity of the marbles.

Testing viscosity of liquids is an easy activity to try at home using a cookie sheet! Our follow up activity for students lets you examine the effect that temperature has on viscosity using household liquids… Happy experimenting!

La lección del día de hoy fue sobre la viscosidad. La viscosidad es una característica de los fluidos causada por la fricción que se produce entre las moléculas. Coloquialmente, la viscosidad puede ser descrita como cuan espeso y poco fluido es un líquido. La viscosidad esta relacionada a la interacción entre moléculas y tamaños de moléculas. La viscosidad también es afectada por la temperatura. Recuerda como funciona la fricción entre sólidos: si frotas tus manos notarás que la fricción generada hace que parte de la energía cinética (de movimiento) se convierte en energía calórica, haciendo que tus dedos se calienten.

Durante la actividad, experimentamos con la viscosidad de cinco fluidos que encontramos comúnmente en nuestra cocina o en el baño. En base a cómo fluyen los fluidos analizados, generamos hipótesis sobre cual de ellos era más o menos viscoso. Luego realizamos una prueba de viscosidad, al observar y medir la velocidad de canicas fluyendo a través de los distintos fluidos.

Medir la viscosidad de fluidos es una actividad bastante fácil de realizar en casa usando una bandeja para cocinar galletas. En nuestra actividad de seguimiento, los estudiantes podrán experimentar los efectos de la temperatura sobre la viscosidad utilizando líquidos comúnmente encontrados en casa.

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Science Experiments

How Liquid Viscosity Impacts Magnetic Attraction Science Experiment

What do you think, will the type of liquid in a glass impact a magnet’s attraction? We use three different liquids to test our theory.

Using simple supplies found at home, kids can learn about viscosity and resistance through this simple hands-on experiment. Preview our demonstration video using water, vegetable oil and corn syrup, but our printable instructions and simple scientific explanation include alternate liquids you can use to test the concept.

JUMP TO SECTION:   Instructions  |  Video Tutorial  |  How it Works

Supplies Needed

• 12 Paper Clips
• 1/2 Cup Water
• 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
• 1/2 Cup Light Corn Syrup

Viscosity & Magnetic Attraction Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Viscosity & Magnetic Attraction Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!

It’s everything you need to  make science easy for teachers and fun for students  — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!

Experiment Instructions

Step 1 – Place three cups in a row. Fill the first glass with the water.

Step 2 – Fill the middle glass with the vegetable oil.

Step 3 – Fill the third glass with the corn syrup.

Step 4 – Next, place 4 paper clips in each glass.

Step 5 – You may need to gently push the paper clips to the bottom of the glass with the corn syrup.

Step 6 – Test your magnet by showing how paper clips outside of the liquid are attracted to it.

Step 7 – Next, take your magnet and place it next to each glass. Notice that all the paper clips are attracted to the magnet, but that the liquid in the glass causes the paper clips to move differently. Do you know why? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.

Video Tutorial

How Does the Science Experiment Work

The question answered in this experiment is how does the consistency of a liquid impact magnetic attraction.

A unique property of liquids is something called viscosity. Viscosity is a liquid’s resistance to flowing. Viscosity depends on the size and shape of the particles that make the liquid, as well as the attraction between the particles. Liquids that have a LOW viscosity flow quickly (ie. water, rubbing alcohol, and vegetable oil). Liquids that have a HIGH viscosity flow slowly (ie. honey, corn syrup, and molasses).

When using water and vegetable oil, the paper clips moved through the liquid to the magnet very quickly. This is because water and vegetable oil have a low viscosity and provide very little resistance to the paperclips moving through them. When using corn syrup, the paper clips moved very slowly toward the magnet. This is because the corn syrup has a high viscosity and provides a lot of resistance to the paper clips moving through it.

The magnet still attracts the paperclips in each of the scenarios, but the experiment shows how the viscosity of a liquid impacts how fast (or slow) the paperclips move toward the magnet.

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions;

Instructions

• Place three cups in a row
• Fill the first glass with the water
• Fill the middle glass with the vegetable oil
• Fill the third glass with the corn syrup
• Next, place 4 paper clips in each glass
• You may need to gently push the paper clips to the bottom of the glass with the corn syrup
• Test your magnet by showing how paper clips outside of the liquid are attracted to it.
• Next, take your magnet and place it next to each glass. Notice that all the paper clips are attracted to the magnet, but that the liquid in the glass causes the paper clips to move differently

Reader Interactions

March 30, 2016 at 9:12 am

Will this work if plastic cups are used?

April 5, 2016 at 1:09 pm

I believe it will, but I’ve never tried it. If you do, leave a comment and let us know if it works.

April 30, 2017 at 12:54 pm

I don’t think they will work

January 8, 2018 at 7:58 am

It will definitely work! Most cups will work because the walls of the cups are thin. Additionally, metal cups and water bottles will probably not work because the molecule are packed more tightly. These materials can also contain iron particles which will make them magnetic and therefore will interfere with your experiment.

February 20, 2018 at 6:42 pm

It works, we used a plastic water bottle and it was a success!

November 8, 2016 at 6:47 pm

this is my science fair project i’m going to do

December 8, 2016 at 12:05 pm

Is this good for a science project for eighth graders or is it to easy?

December 9, 2016 at 2:37 pm

Hi, just a small comment. Is not the magnetic force that is affected is that in the case of syrup the friction force is bigger so the total force acting on the paper clip is smaller, then the acceleration will be smaller. F=m.a

January 1, 2017 at 4:21 pm

Nice experiment to show relationship between Center of Gravity and Balance Points. At the start point the Center of gravity is only a little higher than the point it’s touching the board. If it moves to the wider(higher) end, the Center of gravity lowers because the boards get wider and the contact point on the funnels gets further out, so the Center of gravity is actually getting lower as the funnel appears to be going UP HILL. It is in fact going down toward the direction of gravity.

January 25, 2017 at 11:27 am

I ENJOYED THIS EXPERIMENT AND PERFOMED THE SAME IN MY SEMINAR.I AND MY FRIENDS WAS HAVING A GOOD INTERACTIONS.SO GOOD.

April 2, 2017 at 6:47 pm

April 27, 2017 at 12:35 pm

HI thanks for the video it was cool to know how liquid impacts a magnet.

September 4, 2017 at 1:58 pm

September 8, 2017 at 12:05 am

This fits perfectly in our magnet lessons for homeschool tomorrow. Thank you! The kids are going to love it. I’m thinking we may even expand on it a bit — they love to experiment.

January 2, 2018 at 12:29 pm

How strong are your magnets?

March 14, 2018 at 4:04 am

that’s a pretty cool experiment, especially for kids! Thanks for the great idea, i will test it soon with my kids.

Regards Christine

September 3, 2018 at 9:59 pm

Thank you for sharing! Can’t wait to try it with my class this week.

October 16, 2021 at 11:47 pm

Hi Can I use honey instead of corn syrup ?

March 17, 2022 at 12:31 pm

OMG im doing this experiment for my science fair on school

December 7, 2023 at 7:36 pm

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Viscosity and Jelly Science Investigation

November 17, 2013 By Emma Vanstone 1 Comment

We recently tried exploring the viscosity of fluids using water, oil, golden syrup and honey. The main problem we had was that for some of the liquids, the marble dropped too fast for us to record the time. With this in mind, we decided to try the same experiment with different strength jellies.

I made three different jelly mixtures in test tubes.

Solution A – Normal jelly

Solution B – Normal jelly diluted with half water

Solution C- Solution B diluted with half water again.

I would recommend amending those dilutions a little. We found that even after 5 minutes, the marble hadn’t made it halfway through Solution A, and it dropped through B and C too fast.

If you try this at home and improve on our method, do let me know!

Other Viscosity Investigation Ideas

Have a viscosity race , using different liquids travelling down a flat board.

Try the same race but large scale in the garden !

Try timing a marble dropping through different liquids .

Test Tubes kindly provided by Learning Resources.

Last Updated on October 19, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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Viscosity of Liquids

Theory, Estimation, Experiment, and Data

• © 2007
• Dabir S. Viswanath 0 ,
• Tushar K. Ghosh 1 ,
• Dasika H. L. Prasad 2 ,
• Nidamarty V.K. Dutt 3 ,
• Kalipatnapu Y. Rani 4

University of Missouri, Columbia, U.S.A.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India

• Single comprehensive book on viscosity of liquids, as opposed to most of the books in this area which are data books, i.e., a compilation of viscosity data from the literature, where the information is scattered and the description and analysis of the experimental methods and governing theory are not readily available in a single place

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Oscillatory Viscometer for Measuring the Viscosity of Liquids

Review on viscosity measurement: devices, methods and models

Linking Viscosity to Equations of State Using Residual Entropy Scaling Theory

• development
• liquid mixtures
• measurement
• fluid- and aerodynamics

Table of contents (6 chapters)

Front matter, introduction.

• Dabir S. Viswanath, Tushar K. Ghosh, Dasika H. L. Prasad, Nidamarty V.K. Dutt, Kalipatnapu Y. Rani

VISCOMETERS

Theories of viscosity, correlations and estimation of pure liquid viscosity, viscosities of solutions and mixtures, experimental data, back matter, authors and affiliations.

Dabir S. Viswanath, Tushar K. Ghosh

Dasika H. L. Prasad, Nidamarty V.K. Dutt, Kalipatnapu Y. Rani

Bibliographic Information

Book Title : Viscosity of Liquids

Book Subtitle : Theory, Estimation, Experiment, and Data

Authors : Dabir S. Viswanath, Tushar K. Ghosh, Dasika H. L. Prasad, Nidamarty V.K. Dutt, Kalipatnapu Y. Rani

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5482-2

Publisher : Springer Dordrecht

eBook Packages : Engineering , Engineering (R0)

Copyright Information : Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007

Hardcover ISBN : 978-1-4020-5481-5 Published: 30 November 2006

Softcover ISBN : 978-90-481-7378-5 Published: 19 October 2010

eBook ISBN : 978-1-4020-5482-2 Published: 31 March 2007

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XIV, 662

Topics : Engineering Fluid Dynamics , Engineering Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer , Mechanical Engineering , Physical Chemistry , Fluid- and Aerodynamics

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