DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION,

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : N. YESU MARIAMMA
Designation : Senior Lecturer
Branch : Electronics & Instrumentation
Institute : Govt. Polytechnic for Minorities, Guntur.
Year/Semester : IV - Semester
Subject : Process Instrumentation – II
Sub. Code : AEI - 405
Topic : Viscosity Measurement (4/5)
Duration : 100 min
Sub Topic : Falling Ball Viscometer
Teaching Aids : Diagrams
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 Objectives:

Upon completion of this topic the student will be

able to know about

•The principle of operation of the falling ball viscometer

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 Falling ball Viscometer

• Falling ball Viscometer is a device used to calculate the

coefficient of viscosity (µ) of a given sample

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 Falling Ball Viscometer

1. Cap
2. Capillary tube
3. Steel ball
4. Liquid whose viscosity
is to be measured
5. Base
6. Marking denoting
falling ball distance to
be timed
Fig 1
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Falling ball viscometer-Principle of operation

• It consists of essentially a precision glass tube of 200

mm length

• A perfectly smooth steel ball freely released from the

rest into the test liquid under gravitational force

• The ball obtains a maximum terminal velocity, when

upward and downward forces acting on it which are

equal

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• The following forces act on the ball

• Weight of ball (w)

• Upward force (fl)

• Viscous force (F)

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 Fig 2
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• Weight of the ball that acts vertically downward

i.e. w = 4/3 π r3 ρb g

• Where r = Radius of ball

ρb = Density of ball

g = Acceleration due to gravity

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Upward force (fl) of the fluid due to buoyancy

i.e. Fl = 4/3 π r3ρlg

Where ρl = Density of the liquid whose

viscosity is to be measured

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Viscous force (F) in upward direction

i.e. F = 6πμr v

Where μ = Coefficient of viscosity

V = Constant velocity with which

the ball moves through the liquid

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In equilibrium condition the upward forces are equal to

downward forces

Fl + F = W

F = W – Fl

6πμrv = 4/3 π3ρb g – 4/3 π r3ρl g

= 4/3 πr3g (ρb – ρl)

μ = [4/3 π r3g (ρb – ρl)] / 6rv

=[2/9 r2g(ρb –AEI405.64

ρl)] /Vto 65 11
• The terminal velocity (V) can be calculated by measuring

the timing of the fall of the ball and the distance between

the markings on the glass tube

• V= Distance / Time

• By measuring the density of ball (ρb), density of liquid (ρl),

radius of the ball (r) and knowing terminal velocity (V) the

coefficient of viscosity (µ) can be calculated

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 Fig 3
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 Summary

We have discussed about

• Principle of operation of the falling ball viscometer

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 Quiz

1. The ball obtains a maximum terminal velocity when

upward and downward forces are

a) Upward force is greater than downward force

b) Equal

c) Upward force is less than downward force

d) None of the above

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 Frequently asked questions

1. Explain the principle operation of falling ball viscometer

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