EXPERIMENT NO.

1
DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY BY U-TUBE
Year and Section:
Group Number:
Group Members:

Date Started:
Date Finished:
Date Submitted:

4CE-A
5

August 17, 2015

August 17, 2015
August 23, 2015

Leyno, Iana Renza L.

Lintao, Reychito Jr. P.
Malenab, Cesar Jr. P.

Montenegro, Louis M.
Montes, Mark Rainier L.
Nakaegawa, Akira Q.

Medina, Mark Laurence A.

Pasagui, Christal M.

1. OBJECTIVE/S
This activity aims to determine the specific gravity of an unknown liquid using U-tube
manonmeter
2. APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES
U-tube manometer
Beaker
Dropper
3. PROCEDURE
1. Pour some amounts of the liquid of unknown specific gravity into the tube until the liquid
reaches a level of approximately 3mm.
2. Pour water into both ends to a height of at least 9mm from the level of liquid
3. Pour an additional amount of water into the right leg of the U-tube until there is a
noticeable difference in water level
4. Record the height of the water level and the unknown liquid in the two legs of the
manometer
5. Repeat steps (3) and (4) for additional trials until water is about to overflow
CLEANING PROCEDURE
1. Clean the apparatus before each trial
2. After the experiment, dispose the unknown liquid properly
3. Clean the apparatus supply with soap and water and dry them thoroughly before
returning them
4. DATA AND RESULTS

Trial
1
2
3
4
5
6

Height of unknown liquid

(cm)
bc (right)
ab (right)
de (left)
2.9
4.6
2.9
2.8
4.8
2.9
2.7
4.9
2.9
2.55
5.1
2.9
2.4
5.2
2.9
2.35
5.28
2.9
Average Specific Gravity
Table 1 - Results

Height of water (cm)

cd (left)
4.2
4.2
4.3
4.5
4.6
4.7

Specific
gravity (sg)
0.765
0.737
0.800
0.909
0.957
0.988
0.859

CE 412L: Fluid Mechanics Laboratory | Experiment No. 1: Determination of Specific Gravity by UTube

5. FORMULAS AND COMPUTATIONS

sg = cd bc
ab de
Where
sg = Specific Gravity
cd, bc = Height of Water
ab, de = Height of Unknown liquid
average specific gravity = sg
no. of trials
5.1 Specific Gravity
5.1.1 TRIAL 1
sg = 4.2 2.9
4.6 2.9
sg =0.765
5.1.2 TRIAL 2
sg = 4.2 2.8
4.8 2.9
sg =0.737
5.1.2 TRIAL 3
sg = 4.3 2.7
4.9 2.9
sg =0.800
5.1.2 TRIAL 4
sg = 4.5 2.55
5.1 2.9
sg =0.909
5.1.2 TRIAL 5
sg = 4.6 2.4
5.2 2.9
sg =0.957
5.1.2 TRIAL 6
sg = 4.7 2.35
5.28 2.9
sg =0.988
5.2 Average Specific Gravity
Ave = 0.765+0.737+0.800+0.909+0.957+0.988
6
Ave = 0.859

CE 412L: Fluid Mechanics Laboratory | Experiment No. 1: Determination of Specific Gravity by UTube

6. FIGURES/DIAGRAMS/GRAPHS

Figure 1 Materials
(Beaker, Dropper, U-tube manometer)

Figure 2 Unknown Liquid and Water

CE 412L: Fluid Mechanics Laboratory | Experiment No. 1: Determination of Specific Gravity by UTube

Figure 3 Actual Experiment

7. SOURCES OF ERRORS
The experiment is an activity composed of simple instructions to follow. Carefully proceeded
with the instructions, we might have been able to achieve a more consistent set of data, thus, obtaining
an ideal specific gravity of the unknown liquid.
Here are some of the errors that have been noticed during the said experiment:
Human Error liquid formation inside the segment of water
Human Error reading of liquid and water
Human Error formation of bubbles
Instrumental Error Dropper
Instrumental Error U-tube Manometer
There are three human errors being stated here. First is the liquid formation inside the segment
of water. Since the U-tube manometer has one end closed, we cant follow the normal procedure,
instead, we went by unknown liquid-water-unknown liquid. And because of the water being poured in
the middle, there were chances that some drops of unknown liquid went in the waters segment. Next,
we have the error while reading the measurement of liquid and water. Since the water and unknown
liquid are of the same color, it is hard to check the real reading on the U-tube manometer. Lastly, we
have the formation of bubbles. In our group, we take turns using the dropper and some of the members
have their hands shaking while using the dropper. Some of the drops they make forms bubbles at the
end of the segment of the liquid being poured.
Secondly, we have two instrumental errors. The first instruction was to pour 3 mm of unknown
liquid and then 9 mm of water. The dropper doesnt have any reading on it and since all the liquid being
CE 412L: Fluid Mechanics Laboratory | Experiment No. 1: Determination of Specific Gravity by UTube

placed in the U-tube manometer goes at the bottom part (The bottom part has no reading.), we just
assumed the amount of liquid being poured. And last, we have the U-tube manometer, the instructions
being given were not followed because the other end of the apparatus is closed. Thus, having slight
errors of the placement of water and unknown liquid.
8. CONCLUSIONS AND REMARKS
The term specific gravity, symbolized sp gr, refers to the ratio of the density of a solid or liquid
to the density of water at 4 degrees Celsius. The term can also refer to the ratio of the density of a gas
to the density of dry air at standard temperature and pressure, although this specification is less often
used. Specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity; that is, it is not expressed in units.
There are many methods that can be used to determine the specific gravity of liquids. One
method uses the hydrometer, an instrument that gives a specific gravity reading directly. Another is the
bottle method wherein a flask made to hold the unknown liquid at a specified temperature is weighed
and is to be divided by the weight of an equal volume of water to give the specific gravity of liquid. The
method used in the experiment is by using a U-tube manometer and getting the height of the liquids.
Because the hydrostatic pressure does not vary horizontally, across the connected water, the
pressure in the U-tube at the height of the line at the reading of the apparatus is the same on both sides.
Starting at the free surface of the oil, we can write: P line = unknown liquid g H unknown liquid. The pressure of
the line can also be calculated by the water: P line = water g H water. Equating these two pressures gives:
P line = water H water = unknown liquid H unknown liquid which can be re-written as S.G. unknown liquid = unknown liquid/
water which is also equal to, in this experiment, H water (cd-bc)/ H unknown liquid (ab-de).Thus, obtaining 6
different ascending specific gravities from 6 trials. And getting the mean of this data gives us a specific
gravity of 0.859 for the unknown liquid.
Although we have obtained this specific gravity, there are a few recommendations for the said
experiment, especially with the materials and apparatus being used. To have better results, first, we
think that the dropper should have a reading in order to attain a more accurate result. Another is the Utube manometer, having both of the ends of the apparatus open may lower the chances of having the
unknown liquid mixed in the segment of water. Third, we also think that changing the color of the liquid
or choosing a liquid with color can help the students see the reading better. And last is when a group
makes an error, we hope that there is an apparatus that can help in the drying of the U-tube manometer.
All these are just recommended ways in order to lessen the amount of error and to help the next batch
that will perform the experiment.
This experiment is a great way to define the specific gravity using the pressure or pressure head
equation. We also learned that using a U-tube manometer enables the pressure of both liquids and
gases to be measured with the same instrument. And that the fluid whose pressure is being measured
should have a mass density less than that of the manometric fluid (water: sg = 1) and the two fluids
should not be able to mix readily. Other problems with regards to this experiment will greatly rely, not
just on the instruments, but also on the performance of the students doing the experiment.

CE 412L: Fluid Mechanics Laboratory | Experiment No. 1: Determination of Specific Gravity by UTube