Lab no.

1: Fluid properties and pressure measurement

Experiment No.1

Objective:

To investigate the sensitivity of mercury and water manometers for high and low flow
rates.

Requirements:
• Measure the pressure using water and mercury manometer for different flow rates
and compare the results
Theory:
P = ρgh
Where P is pressure (Pa), ρ is the density of fluid (kg/m3) and h is the head (m)
ρ water = 1000 kg/m3
ρ mercury = 13,600 kg/m3

Equipment Used:

• Hydraulic bench which allows the measure of flow by timed volume collection
• pipe friction apparatus

Equipment Description:

Hydraulic bench is used to supply water to a test pipe. There are two methods of
supplying water to the test pipe:
• For higher flow rates the pipe inlet is connected directly to the bench supply.
• For lower flow rates, the inlet pipe is connected to the outlet at the base of the
constant head tank and the inlet to the tank is connected to the bench supply

The test section of pipe is mounted vertically on the rig and is instrumented using two
manometers (fig.1 & 2):
• Water over mercury is used to measure large pressure differentials
• A Pressurized water manometer is used to measure small pressure differentials

Flow through the test section is regulated using a flow control valve. In use this valve
should face the volumetric tank. A short length of flexible piping is attached to the valve
to prevent splashing

1
 Figure 1: losses in pipe

Procedure:

1. Take the manometer readings for different flow rates

2. Calculate the corresponding pressure

2
Results:

V Time h1 h2 ∆h P h1 h2 ∆h P
(ml) (s) (mm.Hg) (mm.Hg) (mm.Hg) (Pa) (mm. H2O) (mm. H2O) (m.H2O) (Pa)

Experiment No.2

Objective:

Measuring the density of different fluids (water and oil)

Requirements:
• Measure the density of water and oil and calculate the standard deviation

Theory:
m
ρ=
V
Where ρ is the density of fluid (kg/m3) and V is is the volume occupied by the fluid
(m3)
Σ( X − mean ) 2
σ=
n
Where σ is the standard deviation, X is the readings [density of fluid (kg/m3)] and n is
the number of readings

Equipment Used:

• Graduated cylinders
• A balance for weight measurement

Procedures:
1. For each fluid, measure the mass of the fluid and the corresponding volume in
five increments
2. Calculate the density for each increment reading and calculate the standard
deviation

3
Results:

Fluid Volume (ml) Mass (g) Density (kg/m3)

Water

Oil

Experiment No.3

Objective:

Calculate the surface tension of water

Requirements:
• Calculate the surface tension of water using three different diameter capillary
tubes
• Compare the experimental value with the theoretical one.
Theory:
2δ cos θ
h=
γ r
Where δ is the surface tension (N/m) { δ water= 0.073 N/m at 20 °C}, γ is specific
weight (N/m3), r is the radius of the tube (m), θ is the surface tension angle (for water =
0), h is the water rise in the tube (m) (see fig.2)

Figure 2: surface tension

4
Equipment Used:

• Capillary tubes
• Ruler
• Tank of water (fig.3)

Figure 3: fluid rise in capillary tube

Procedures:
1. Measure the rise of water in the capillary tubes when inserting them in a tank of
water
2. Calculate the surface tension force for each tube and then calculate the average
and the standard deviation.

Results:

Capillary tube diameter (mm) Water rise (mm)

5
3.5
1.5