Civil Engineering Department

CEEN 3167 – Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering Lab

Student`s Name:

Course number:

Date of Submission:
 Introduction

This laboratory practical was conducted to measure the hydrostatic properties of fluids including

density, specific gravity, and viscosity. This report looks at the first and third part of the

experiment whereby we were required to determine the density and viscosity of the provided

fluid (water) using a measuring cylinder and a displacement vessel respectively.

Viscosity determines the rate of deformation of a fluid. The volume of a liquid hardly changes

with pressure and temperature variations. Hence, fluids are generally considered incompressible

for engineering purposes. The engineer is particularly concerned with the forces produced by

either static fluids of fluids in motion. Among the properties of interest is density, specific

gravity, and viscosity of the fluid.

Procedure

The procedures listed for this experiment conformed to those used by (Swamy 2006) in chapter

four of his book Fluid mechanics and machinery laboratory manual.

A. Determination of Density

I. Measuring Cylinder

1. The mass of an empty measuring cylinder was weighed and recorded.

2. The cylinder was then filled with water upto approximately its mid-height and the volume

read.

3. The cylinder with water was weighed and the mass recorded.

4. The water density was then calculated.

II. The displacement method

1. The dimensions of a cuboid that fit in the water can was measured so as to determined its

volume.

2. A Eureka Can was filled with liquid with the overflowing fluid dropping directly onto a

predetermined area.

3. We proceeded to weigh an empty beaker and placed it under the filled Euerka can spout.

4. the cuboid was gently immersed into the can and the displaced liquid collected in the beaker

below.

5. The beaker with liquid was then reweighed.

5. The equation below was then used to determine the density of water

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠(𝑘𝑔)
𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 (𝜌) = … … . . (1)
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒(𝑚3 )
B. Determination of specific gravity

1. The specific gravity of the provided fliuds liquids was determined by use of the hydrometer.

2. The three fluids were emptied into three respective hydrometers

3. The scale reading was recorded for each liquid

C. Determination of Viscosity

1. Thick oil provided was used to fill the viscometer

2. Steel balls of varying diameters were released into the oil form a height with equal potential

(directly above the oil surface).

3. The time taken for the balls to travel a distance of 200mm was recorded
4. The absolute viscosity as determined in Stokes Law is given as:

𝑑2 (𝜌𝑠 − 𝜌𝑓 )
𝑉= … … … … . (2)
18𝜇

5. The kinematic viscosity was calculated using the equation shown below:

𝜇
𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑣, (𝑚2 𝑠 −1 ) = … … . (3)
𝜌

D. Hydrostatic Principles (Static Pressure)

1. The experiment began by closing valves V3 and V4

2. Valves V1, V2, and V5 were then opened

3. We transferred water from Tank 1 to Tank 2 using the pump up to a predetermined level on

the water tank.

4. The level on tubes measured

5. The same was repeated for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th levels on the water tank..

Results and Discussion

I. Measuring cylinder

Mass of cylinder in kg 0.081

Mass of cylinder + water in kg 0.231
Volume of water (m3) 0.00015
Density (kg/m3) 1000

II. Eureka can

Mass of empty beaker in kg 0.1066

Mass of beaker + water in kg 0.1295
Mass (kg) 0.0229
 Volume of solid (m3) 0.0000225
Density (kg/m3) 1018

It was noted that density measured using the measuring cylinder was more accurate
compared to that from the Eureka can.

III. Determination of viscosity

Fluid Coefficient of viscosity (μ), Average μ, Kinematic
kg/(m-s) kg/(m-s) viscosity (ν),
m2/s
Water 0.050 0.012 0.026 0.029 2.95*(10^-5)
Engine oil 1.811 0.453 0.966 1.077
Castor oil 3.005 0.751 1.603 1.787

The coefficient viscosity in all fluids appear to be directly proportional to the size of the steel

balls. The coefficient increases with an increase in radius of the steel ball. This can be attributed

to lower shear force due to increase in object surface area.

It was observed that hydrostatic pressure did not depend on the size or shape of the container

used. By hydrostatic law, we know that;

𝑑𝑝
= 𝑝𝑓 𝑔
𝑑ℎ

Where:

𝑑𝑝
is the pressure gradient in the vertical direction.
𝑑ℎ

ρf is the density of fluid

g is the gravitational acceleration

The upward pressure gradient is considered positive in a fluid system. Now consider water as the

case in our experiment D.

 𝑑𝑝
= (𝜌𝑤 𝑔)
𝑑ℎ

Rearranging and integrating both sides,

∫ 𝑑𝜌 = ∫ (𝜌𝑤 𝑔)𝑑ℎ

𝑃 = (𝑝𝑤 𝑔)ℎ

This is the hydrostatic principle from which we understand that pressure (P) in a container filled

with fluid is independent from the size or shape of the container, but depends on the fluid density

(ρ) and height upto which the container is filled as well as the acceleration due to gravity.

If the tubes are interconnected (as in the given set up), the fluid level remains the same in all the

tubes since they are all exposed to the same atmospheric pressure.

Conclusion

 Measuring water density via measuring cylinder yields more accurate values in

comparison to the displacement method.

 The coefficient viscosity was found to be directly proportional to the steel ball surface

area

 The height in all tubes is at the same level despite having a sloped bed because of

exposure to constant atmospheric pressure.

References
1. Roy, D. N. (1988). Applied fluid mechanics (p. 402). Ellis Horwood.

2. Swamy, N.K. (2006). Fluid mechanics and machinery laboratory manual (cp. 4).

Charotar Publishers
 APPENDICES

Appendix 1: density of water using measuring cylinder

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 = 80.8𝑔

80.8
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑔 = = 0.081𝑘𝑔
1000

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 + 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 230.9𝑔 ≈ 231𝑔 = 0.231𝑘𝑔

𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 150𝑚𝑙

150
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑚3 = = 0.00015𝑚3
106

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠(𝑘𝑔) 0.231 − 0.081

𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 (𝜌) = = = 1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒(𝑚3 ) 0.00015

Appendix 2: density of water using eureka can

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟 = 106.6𝑔 = 0.1066𝑘𝑔

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟 + 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 129.5𝑔 = 0.1295𝑘𝑔

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 0.1295 − 0.1066 = 0.0229𝑘𝑔

Solid object dimensions: L = 3.6cm, W = 2.5cm, H = 2.5cm as shown in the picture below.

𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑙 ∗ 𝑤 ∗ ℎ = 3.6 ∗ 2.5 ∗ 2.5 = 22.5𝑐𝑚3

𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚3 = 22.5 ∗ 10−6 = 0.0000225𝑚3

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠(𝑘𝑔) 0.0229
𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 (𝜌) = 3
= = 1018𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒(𝑚 ) 0.0000225
Appendix 3: coefficient of viscosity

𝑑 2 (𝜌𝑠 − 𝜌𝑓 )
𝑉=
18𝜇

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 (𝑚)

𝑉=
𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑠)

𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟 1/8” 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑡 𝑎 𝑓𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 200𝑚𝑚

𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = (𝑡1 + 𝑡2 + 𝑡3)/3

0.22 + 0.36 + 0.28 = 0.29𝑠

0.2
𝑉= = 0.698𝑚/𝑠
0.29

Making μ the subject of the formula in equation two gives

𝑑 2 (𝜌𝑠 − 𝜌𝑓 ) 0.003175 ∗ (7300 − 1000)

𝜇= = = 0.05
18𝑉 18 ∗ 0.698
𝜇
The kinematic viscosity v, m2/s = 𝜌

0.050
= 5 ∗ 10−5 𝑚2 /𝑠
1000