Download Viscosity Lab - Net Start Class

Viscosity Lab
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Problem: How does the concentration (thickness) of a liquid relate to
viscosity?
Background Information: From Glencoe Science laboratory handout the
following information was determined: Viscosity is the resistance of a fluid
to flow. Fluids are liquids and gases. A viscous fluid has a high viscosity:
that is, it does not flow easily. A less viscous fluid flows easily. Viscosity is a
physical property of a fluid.
In this lab dish soap, corn oil, and waters’ viscosity will be determined and
ranked from high to low viscosity.
With this information in mind……..
What is known about dish soap?___________________________.
What is known about corn oil?_____________________________.
What is known about water?_______________________________.
Hypothesis: If ______________________________________
THEN________________________________________________.
Procedures: 1. In this lab a BB will be dropped through baby oil, corn oil
and rubbing alcohol.
Here’s how:
1. seal ONE end of a straw with masking tape.
2. place the sealed end of the straw into the clay.
3. place the straw in clay into a beaker. It should stand away
from the side of the beaker. (straight up)
4. Take a pipet and fill the straw with baby oil. Make sure NO air
is in the straw. Baby oil ONLY.
5. One lab partner will be the timer, one the observer of the BB
falling through the fluid, and the other partner the BB dropper.
6. Record the entire time it took for the BB to fall through the
fluid filled straw. Record this data in the Data Table below.
7. REPEAT these steps using new straws/tape for the corn oil and
rubbing alcohol.
8. All data will be placed in the Data Table.
9. Determine the viscosity rank of the three tested fluids. This
means place in order from highest to lowest viscosity of the
fluids.
10. Make a graph showing the results. (graph paper is given after
the Data table.) Let’s practice making and interrupting
graphs!!!!
Data Table; Fluid tested
TIME in seconds
Baby Oil
Corn Oil
Rubbing Alcohol
Observations of the fluids
Baby Oil
Corn Oil
Rubbing Alcohol
VI.
Conclusion questions:
1. How is the time needed for a BB to fall through a fluid related
to the fluid’s viscosity?
2. What happens to the viscosity of a fluid when it’s thickness
increases?
3. What happens to the viscosity of a fluid when its thickness
decreases?
V.
Conclusion Statement: This lab has proven that
The facts that prove this statement are