Yarmouk University

Civil Engineering Department

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Laboratory
CE 354

Name : HISHAM ZUHEIR ALSHORMAN

ID #: 2018988082

Section #: 2

Experiment : Measurement of Density, Specific gravity and viscosity of

liquids

Sending Date : 16 / 3 / 2021

Notes :

Eng.Bayan AlOmari
 Introduction :

Determination some of fluids properties , to determine the

density , specific gravity and viscosity of liquids , four different
liquids were used { water , castor oil , glycerol and engine oil } ,
hydrometer was used to experimentally determine the specific
gravity for each one of the four liquids , three steel balls different in
radius were used to determine the viscosity by throwing the balls
in the liquids and after the balls reached the equilibrium under the
gravitational force , bouncy force , viscous force ( where velocity is
constant ) .

Objective :

The aim of this experiment is to determine the density, specific

.gravity and viscosity of three liquids and comparing between them

Eng.Bayan AlOmari
 Materials and apparatus:

universal hydrometer – 1
three hydrometer jars – 2
four different liquids – 3
three different steel balls – 4
stop watch – 5
six markers ( circular rubber rings were used as a marker ) – 6

Figure 1 (hydrometer apparatus)

Eng.Bayan AlOmari
 Procedure:

This experiment was done in ordinary conditions

pressure = 760 mmHg

given that 𝛒 steel = 7.8 g/cm^3

temperature = 16°c

In the first part

The universal hydrometer was freely butted and partially
submerged in the 4 different liquids and the scale
readings were recorded , each reading equals to the
specific gravity of the liquid where the hydrometer was
submerged in .
Water jar was firstly used and needed to check that the
hydrometer was correctly calibrated

Recorded data . Table 1 (specific gravity for different liquids)

Scale reading =
Liquid
specific gravity, Sl
Water 0.99
Engine Oil 0.9
Glycerol 1.26
corn Oil 0.89

Eng.Bayan AlOmari
In the second part
The two different balls of steel with those measured diameters
D1=3.95 mm ( the largest ) and D2=3.12 mm
were hold then each ball was freely fallen in each liquid (near
by the liquid surface )
, the time realized to cross predetermined distance marked
between two rubber rings with constant velocity was recorded by
the stop watch Where the distance is known and equals 27 cm and
the time was measured
then the velocity can be calculated by the relation.
U = D/T
U : velocity (m/sec ) , D : distance (m )and T : time (sec )

Data & Results : Barometric Pressure: 760 mmHg

Eng.Bayan AlOmari
 Temperature: 16C
ρw = 1000Kg/m3
Measures Diameter of balls: 3.95 mm , 3.12 mm
ρl= Sl X ρw
Density & Specific Gravity:
Density of steel ρs = 7.8 g/cm3
Scale reading =
Liquid Liquid density , ρl
specific gravity, Sl
Water 0.99 990
Engine Oil 0.9 900
Glycerol 1.26 1260
corn Oil 0.89 890
Viscosity :

Water
Time , T Falling
Travel
Ball velocity ʋ=µ/ ρl
Distance , µ(pa.sec)
Diameter Min sec U= L/T 2
(m /sec)
L (m)
(m/sec)
3.95 0.28 0.27 0.96 0.06 0.6*10−4
3.12 0.68 0.27 0.39 0.09 0.9*10−4

0.75
Average 0.72*10−4
Viscosity

Eng.Bayan AlOmari
 Engine Oil
Time , T Falling
Travel
Ball velocity ʋ=µ/ ρl
Distance , µ(pa.sec)
Diameter Min sec U= L/T 2
(m /sec)
L (m)
(m/sec)
3.95 3.3 0.27 0.081 0.727 0.00083
3.12 6.33 0.27 0.042 0.875 0.001

Average
0.801 9.15¿ 10−4
Viscosity

Glycerol
Time , T Falling
Travel
Ball velocity ʋ=µ/ ρl
Distance , µ(pa.sec)
Diameter Min sec U= L/T 2
(m /sec)
L (m)
(m/sec)
3.95 10.15 0.27 0.026 2.09 0.0016
3.12 15.66 0.27 0.017 2.01 0.0015

Average
2.05 0.0015
Viscosity

Corn Oil
Time , T Falling
Travel
Ball velocity ʋ=µ/ ρl
Distance , µ(pa.sec)
Diameter min sec U= L/T 2
(m /sec)
L (m)
(m/sec)
3.95 0.87 0.27 0.31 0.18 2.03¿ 10−4
3.12 1.59 0.27 0.16 0.34 3.67¿ 10−4

Average
0.26 2.85¿ 10−4
Viscosity

Eng.Bayan AlOmari
 Discussion :
1.a. Compare the calculated density and viscosity for each fluid with standard values.

Density
The standard density for water is 998 and in lab is 990
The standard density for engine oil is 878.7 and in lab is 900
The standard density for glaycerol is 1260 and its exact result on result on lab
The standard density for corn oil is 900 and in lab is 890

viscosity
The standard viscosity for water is 0.001 and in lab is 0.75
The standard viscosity for engine oil is 0.05 and in lab is 0.801
The standard viscosity for glaycerol is 0.941 and in lab is 2.05
The standard viscosity for corn oil is 0.0565 and in lab is 0.26

b. Calculate percent error and discuss sources of error.

Density
water = ((998 – 990)/998) * 100% = 0.8 %
engine oil = (( 900 – 878.7)/878.7)* 100% = 2.4%
glaycerol = zero
corn oil = (( 900-890)/900)*100% = 1.1 %

viscosity

water = ((0.001- 0.75) /0.001)* 100% = 74.9 %

engine oil = (0.05 – 0.801)/0.05)* 100% = 150%
glaycerol = (0.941 – 2.05)/0.941)*100% = 17.8 %
corn oil = ((0.0565 – 0.26)/0.0565)*100% = 560 %

Eng.Bayan AlOmari
1. The human error like taking reading, estimate the point of beginning.
2. Machine errors like adjustment of stop watch and verify that the
hydrometer is clean from the drops of liquid before put it in another
one.

2. Arrange the density and viscosity values in ascending order.

density

corn Oil < Engine Oil < Water < Glycerol

viscosity

corn Oil < Water < Engine Oil < Glycerol

3. Discuss the effect of temperature and pressure in calculated values.

Viscosity is normally independent of pressure, but liquids under extreme

pressure often experience an increase in viscosity

As for the temperature . Viscosity depends strongly on temperature it decreases

with increasing temperature
( viscous forces are caused by molecules exerting attractive forces on each other
across layers of flow. Increasing temperature results in a decrease in viscosity
because a larger temperature means particles have greater thermal energy and are
more easily able to overcome the attractive forces binding them together )

Eng.Bayan AlOmari
 Conclusion :

** From these experiment we can conclude that: the Specific gravity is

unique for every liquid so it differ from one liquid to another. Density of
any liquid can be determined from the equation ρ=1000*G.S.

** Like specific gravity, viscosity is differ from one liquid to another.

Finally, all the liquid properties are affected by the environmental factor
like temperature and pressure.

Eng.Bayan AlOmari
Sample of calculations :

This calculation shown for glycerol as a sample

from the relation { 𝛒 = 𝛒 water * S }

from the scale reading of hydrometer the glycerol specific gravity is 1.26

𝛒 glycerol = 1000 * 1.26 = 1260 kg/m^3

from equation U= D/T the velocity can be calculated
U1= 0.27 / 10.15 = 0.026 m/sec
U2= 0.27 /15.66 = 0.017m/sec

= from these equations 𝛍

2
2∗π∗g∗r ( ρ steel−ρ liquid )
9∗u

= and 𝛖
μ
ρ

Dynamic viscosity and kinematic viscosity can be computed for glycerol

𝛍1 = 2∗3.14∗9.81∗¿ ¿ = 2.09 pa.sec

m/sec^2𝛖 0.0016 = 2.09/1260 =1

Eng.Bayan AlOmari