Determining the viscosity of a fluid

 20 Points

Name:__________________________      Date:____________        Period:______

In this activity, each group examines 3 tubes containing liquids of differing viscosities.  They time an air bubble's rise through the tube. 

1.    Determine the mass of each tube in grams.  Write it in the table below.

2.    Determine the length of each tube in meters.  Write it in the table below.

3.    Time how long it takes for the bubble to rise the complete length of the tube.  Write it in the table below.

4.    Compute speed.  Write it in the table below.

 

Green Tube A B A/B

Mass:

Tube Length (m) Time (sec)

Bubble Speed (m/s)

1

   

 

2      

3

   

 

Total      

Mean

   

 

Red Tube A B A/B

Mass:

Tube Length (m) Time (sec)

Bubble Speed (m/s)

1

   

 

2      

3

   

 

Total      

Mean

   

 

Blue Tube A B A/B

Mass:

Tube Length (m) Time (sec)

Bubble Speed (m/s)

1

   

 

2      

3

   

 

Total      

Mean

   

 

 

5.    Use a graph to compare the speeds of the 3 tubes.  Choose the correct graph and place the variables on the correct axes.

6.    Which tube color is the slowest? ________   

7.    What is the  speed of the fastest?___________

8.    The fluid in the slowest tube has the greatest viscosity.  Write your definition of viscosity below.