COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PUNE

Wellesly Road, Shivajinagar, Pune – 411 005

EXPERIMENT: Redwood viscometer.

AIM: To determine the kinematic and dynamic viscosity at different temperatures for given
liquid.

APPARATUS:
1. Redwood viscometer.
2. Diesel & Water.
3. Stopwatch.
4. Volumetric flask of 50 cm3 capacity.

INTRODUCTION:
Viscosity is that property of a fluid by virtue of which it offers resistance to the movement
of one layer of fluid over an adjacent layer. It is primarily due to cohesion and molecular
momentum exchange between fluid layers, and as flow occurs, these effects appears as shearing
stresses between the moving layers of fluid.

Figure 1: Fluid motion between two parallel plates

Consider two plates sufficiently large ( so that edge conditions may be neglected) placed a
small distance Y apart, the space between them being filled with liquid. The lower plate is
assumed to be at rest, while the upper one is moved parallel to it with a velocity V by the
application of a force F , corresponding to area A , of a moving plate in contact with the fluid.
Particles of the fluid in the contact with each plate will adhere to it and if the distance Y and
velocity V are not too big, the velocity v at a distance y from the lower plate will vary uniformly
from zero at lower plate which is at rest, toV at the upper moving plate. For large variety of fluids
 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PUNE
Wellesly Road, Shivajinagar, Pune – 411 005

AV
F
Y
it may be seen from triangle similarity that the ratio V /Y can be replaced by the velocity gradients
dv /dy , which is the rate of angular deformation of the fluid. If a constant of proportionality μ be
introduced, the shear stress τ equal to F / A between any two thin sheets of fluid may be expressed
as ,
F V dv
τ = =μ =μ
A Y dy
Above equation is called Newton’s equation of viscosity, and in the transformed form it serves to
define the proportionality constant ,
τ
μ=
dv /dy
which is called the coefficient of viscosity, or the dynamic viscosity (since it involves force), or
simply viscosity of the fluid. Thus the dynamic viscosity may be defined as force required to
produce unit rate of angular deformation. The ratio of dynamic viscosity μ and the mass density
ρ is known as kinematic viscosity and is denoted by the symbol ϑ so that ,
μ
ϑ=
ρ
The name kinematic viscosity has been given to the ratio ¿ ¿ because kinematics is defined
as the study of motion without regards to the cause of the motion (Force) and hence it is
concerned with with length and time only and on analyzing the dimensions of the kinematic
viscosity it will be observed that it involves only the magnitudes of length and time. SI units
dynamic viscosity μ and and kinematic viscosity ϑ are N . s /m2 and m2 /s respectively.

Viscosity Vs Temperature :
The dynamic viscosity μ of either liquid or gas is practically independent of the pressure for
the range that is ordinarily encountered in practice. However, it varies widely with temperature.
For gases, viscosity increases with increase in temperature while for liquids it decreases with
increase in temperature. This is so because of their fundamentally different intermolecular
characteristics. In liquids, viscosity is governed by the cohesive forces between the molecules of
the liquid, whereas in gases the molecular activity plays a dominant role. The kinematic viscosity
of liquids and gases at a given pressure is essentially a function of temperature.

Redwood viscometer:
It consists of vertical cylinder provided with an orifice in the centre of its base. The cylinder
is surrounded by a water bath which can maintain the liquid to be tested at any required
temperature by means of an immersed electric heater. The cylinder is filled upto a fixed height
with the liquid whose viscosity is to be determined, and is heated by the water bath to the required
temperature. The orifice is then opened and the time taken for filling 50 cm3 of the liquid is noted.
The viscosity of the liquid is proportional to this time. Viscosity is expresses as a function of time
as follows,
 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PUNE
Wellesly Road, Shivajinagar, Pune – 411 005

1.72
ϑ =( 0.0026 ) t−
t
Where,
ϑ : Kinematic viscosity in m2 /s
t : Time in seconds

Figure 2: Redwood viscometer

Redwood viscometer does not provide a direct value of the viscosity of any fluid. It only
facilitates a comparison of viscosities of different liquids. The exact value of viscosity of any
 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PUNE
Wellesly Road, Shivajinagar, Pune – 411 005

liquid can, however, be obtained by comparison with the value of time t for liquids of known
viscosity.

PRECAUTIONS:
1. The working fluid must be thoroughly filter so that solid particles may not clog the jet
coming out from the orifice.
2. The receiving flask should be placed in such a manner that the liquid stream jet strikes the
neck of receiving flask and do not cause any foaming.
3. After each reading the oil should be completely drained out of receiving flask.

PROCEDURE:
1. Clean the oil cup. Orifice tube must be free from dirt .Close the orifice with ball valve.
2. Place 50 ml flask below orifice.
3. Fill the cup up to the mark with desired liquid.
4. Place thermometer in the cup.
5. Heat the water bath and thus liquid to be tested, using electric resistance heater
6. Stir continuously for uniform heating.
7. Check whether requires temperature is achieved or not.
8. After required temperature is attained by the test fluid, remove the ball from opening of
the orifice.
9. Let the liquid fill the flask upto 50 ml and measure the time required for this.
10. Then repeat procedure (7) to (9) for required number of readings.

OBSERVATION TABLE:
Liquid Observation Temperature( T ) Time( t ) Kinematic Density( ρ ) Dynamic
number viscosity( ϑ ) viscosity( μ )
℃ Seconds 2
m /s kg /m
3
N . s /m
2

1
2
1(name of
liquid)

3
4
5
6
1
2
3
2

4
5
6
 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PUNE
Wellesly Road, Shivajinagar, Pune – 411 005

CALCULATIONS:
1. Liquid1
For ____℃ , ρ=¿ kg /m
3

B
ϑ =At − =¿
t
μ=ϑρ=¿

For ____℃ , ρ=¿ kg /m

3

B
ϑ =At − =¿
t
μ=ϑρ=¿

2. Liquid2
For ____℃ , ρ=¿ kg /m
3

B
ϑ =At −
t
μ=ϑρ=¿

For ____℃ , ρ=¿ kg /m

3

B
ϑ =At − =¿
t
μ=ϑρ=¿

Plot graphs of Dynamic viscosity and Kinematic viscosity w.r.t Temperature of fluid .
CONCLUSION:
 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PUNE
Wellesly Road, Shivajinagar, Pune – 411 005

Answer following QUESTIONS:

1. How does the viscosity of liquid vary with temperature? Give reason behind that. Also
state name of any exceptional fluid against the general trend in variation.
2. What is viscosity index? Briefly state, how viscosity index is determined?
3. Discuss concept of apparent viscosity.
4. Why the term μ/ ρ is named as Kinematic viscosity?
5. Why absolute viscosity is also called as dynamic viscosity?
6. Name commonly encountered dilatant and thixotropic fluid.
7. What are the other methods to measure viscosity of Non-Newtonian fluids?
8. How viscosity index of Diesel can be improved?
9. Which fluid will you prefer as working fluid, a fluid with high viscosity index or one with
low viscosity index? Why?
10. Does a high density fluid means more viscous Fluid? Discuss.