Report for Experiment #11

Fluid Flow

Jacob Arkin
Lab Partner: Joohwan Kim
TA: Bingran Wang
11/17/16
Introduction
This experiment was used to explore Poiseuilles Law, which addresses the rate of flow.
Since fluid is matter, it adheres to Newtonian Laws of physics. If there is a net force on the fluid,
it will react by flowing. The goal of the experiment was to investigate how the flow rate
fluctuates depending on capillary diameter and pressure, and subsequently apply the data to
V
Poiseuilles Law. The equation used in Poiseuilles Law is defined by Q= . This equation
t
shows that if the flow is smooth and laminar, the flow rate Q will be proportional to the change
in pressure. In Investigation 1, the height difference was measured, which accounted for the
change in pressure. The time was measured for 50 mL of water to flow through a capillary tube
at 1.5 cm3. The average flow was calculated, and graphed against the change in pressure. In
Investigation 2, the flow rate of four different capillaries with different diameters were compared
to the same pressure difference.

Investigation 1: Dependence of Fluid Flow on Pressure

In order to measure flow rate, a capillary tube with a 0.125cm diameter was utilized and
remained constant throughout this investigation. The setup of the experiment is shown in the
picture on the left. The water was kept at the zero level in the reservoir always. The height of the
capillary tube was taken, which was put to the height of about the top
of a 100cc graduated cylinder. The zero level of the reservoir was set
to 20cm above the capillary tube. This height differential was used to
determine the pressure difference. When the capillary was snapped
into the setup, water flowed from the reservoir into the 100cc
graduated cylinder. The time was measured for the water level to reach
50cc. The error in volume was given. This was done twice. For each
time point, a flow rate was calculated using the given equation. The
average flow rate was taken, as well as the error in flow rate. This was
repeated three times, each time lowering the zero level of the reservoir
3cm, therefore lowering the pressure by 3cm. The flow rate was
graphed against the pressure.

Table 1- Average flow rate data from changes in pressure

trial h1 h2 p avg.
(c (c (c v v Q1 Q2 Q Q
m) m) m) (cm (cm (cm3/s (cm3/s (cm3/s (cm3/s
3
) 3
) t1 (s) t2 (s) ) ) ) )
1 32 54 22 50.0 50.4
50 0.5 7 5 0.999 0.991 0.995 0.005
2 32 51 19 53.7 53.7
50 0.5 8 5 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.000
59.6 60.3
3 32 48 16 50 0.5 9 3 0.838 0.829 0.833 0.006
4 32 45 13 50 0.5 69.5 68.2 0.719 0.732 0.726 0.009
 9

The heights were measured using a meter stick, and the change in pressure was calculated
by subtracting the two heights. The volume was given, as was the error in volume. The time
points, which measured how long it took water to fill a 100cc graduated cylinder to 50cc, were
measured using a timer. Each flow rate measurement was calculated using the equation (Eq. 1):
V
Q= , where t is just the time point measurement. The average flow rate was calculated
t
Q1+Q 2
using equation (Eq. 2): avg . Q= . The random error of flow rate (Q) was calculated
2
by finding the standard deviation, and was found using the standard deviation function in Excel.
From the data gathered, a graph was created which plots average flow rate versus. change
in pressure. The equation of the trendline was shown on the graph, and error bars were added as
well, they are just small so they are not visible. The coordinate (0,0) was also added into the data
set to allow for more stability to the trendline.

Average Q vs. Pressure

f(x) = 0.05x + 0.04

Figure 1. Average Flow Rate versus Change in Pressure Using a Capillary of Diameter 0.125cm

The graph shows a linear relationship between change in pressure and the average flow
rate. The trendline on the graph doesnt pass through the origin, however since the trendline
includes the point (0,0), it shows the y-intercept is (0,0.0427), which means the measurements
were accurate, since in theory the best-fit line would go through the origin (0,0). If the average
flow rate is 0, hypothetically the change in pressure also must be 0, due to Poiseuilles Law
which states that the flow rate is equal to the change in pressure divided by the resistance. The R2
value shows a linear correlation between the flow rate and difference in pressure because the
value is 0.977, which is very close to the theoretical R2 value of 1 in ideal circumstances,
therefore Poiseuilles Law is verified.

Investigation 2: Dependence of Fluid Flow on Capillary Diameter

 The same setup was used in Investigation 2 that was used in Investigation 1. All the
measurements were made at the same change in pressure, so the heights did not change. Three
different capillary sizes (1.5mm, 1.0mm and 0.5mm) were used to measure flow rate. Water was
flowed through the apparatus until the 100cc graduated cylinder was filled to 50cc. This was
done three times. The flow rates were calculated, as well as the average flow rate and its error.
For the 0.5mm capillary, the change in pressure was changed to allow for faster flow, however it
was corrected in the flow rate measurements. Next, using the equation Q=Cdn, where C=p/kl,
the natural logs of Q and d were taken, and a graph was plotted.

Table 2a- Average flow rate data from changes in capillary size
h1 h2 p v avg.
(cm (c (c (cm3 v t1 t2 t3 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q Q
trial ) m) m) ) (cm3) (s) (s) (s) (cm3/s) (cm3/s) (cm3/s) (cm3/s) (cm3/s)
30.6 32.0
1 32 45 13 50 0.5 30.4 5 9 1.645 1.631 1.558 2.417 0.047
72.6 73.0
2 32 45 13 50 0.5 75.2 6 2 0.665 0.688 0.685 1.019 0.013
232. 227. 227. 0.017 0.000
3 32 82 50 10 0.1 8 74 3 0.011 0.011 0.011 0 2

Table 2b- Average flow rate data from changes in capillary size
d d ln(d
lnQ (cm) ln(d) lnQ (cm) )
0.019
0.883 1.5 0.405 3 0.02 0.013
0.018 0.012
7 1 0 3 0.02 0.02
- 0.008
-4.074 0.5 0.693 8 0.02 0.04

The heights were measured using a meter stick, and the change in pressure was calculated
by subtracting the two heights. The volume was given, as was the error in volume. The time
points, which measured how long it took water to fill a 100cc graduated cylinder to 50cc, were
measured using a timer. Each flow rate measurement was calculated using the equation (Eq. 1):
V
Q= , where t is just the time point measurement. The average flow rate was calculated
t
Q1+Q 2+Q 3
using equation (Eq. 2): avg . Q= . The random error of flow rate (Q) was
3
calculated by finding the standard deviation and was found using the standard deviation function
in Excel. The natural log of Q was calculated, and the diameter of the capillaries were recorded,
and the natural log of the diameter was taken as well. The errors were also determined.
From the data gathered, a graph was created which plots average flow rate versus. change
in pressure. The equation of the trendline was shown on the graph, and error bars were added as
well, they are just small so they are not visible. The data was input into the IPL error calculator
and found a more accurate slope of 3.93 0.139.
 Poiseuilles Law is shown by the equation Q=C d n . In the equation, C represents the
change in pressure and volume, and since they were both constant variables in the investigation.
d is the diameter of the capillary tube. C can be determined using the values for k, length (l), and
P
p , where C= . These equations can be combined and altered by taking the natural
kl
log of each side to become the equation: lnQ=nlnd+lnC . Since C is the constant conditions
lnQ
in this investigation, n can be calculated using the following equation: n= .
lnd

ln(Q) vs. ln(d)

f(x) = 4.66x - 0.61

Figure 2. Natural Log of Average Flow Rate versus Natural Log of Diameter

Figure 3. IPL Calculation of Slope

The slope of the trendline was determined to be 3.935. This slope does not have units due
to the fact that ln(Q) and ln(d) do not have units, that is the nature of the natural log. The error of
the slope was calculated using IPL and resulted with the value of 0.139 , which leads to an
expected value of n from the experiment to be 3.935 0.139.
The actual value of n in an experiment with perfect laminar flow would be slightly higher
than what was observed in the experiment. This is because of turbulence that is caused when the
nozzle of the apparatus connects to the capillary tube. Subsequently, it is reasonable that the
experimental value of n is lower than the theoretical value of 4. However, the calculated value of
slope was a value of 3.935 0.139 , which is within the range of error, it is reasonable to
conclude that Poiseuilles Law does define the relationship between the flow rate and the
diameter of a tube.

Conclusion:
In Investigation 1, we measured the R2 value to be .976, which is close to 1, thus indicating that a
there is strong linear correlation between the change in pressure and average flow rate. This
linear relationship confirms Poiseuilles Law because a small change in pressure changes the
average flow rate the same amount. Investigation 2 we found the slope of the trend line to be
3.93 0.139. Even though this value is slightly below the hypothetical value given in
Poiseuilles Law, of which the value would be 4, the difference can be accounted for due to
turbulence disrupting the laminar flow, as well as calculated error that was propagated from the
volume, time and diameter. Taking all of this into account, we can conclude that Poiseuilles Law
accurately defines the dependence of laminar flow rate on the diameter of the capillary.

Questions:
1. You go the hardware store to buy a new 50 ft. garden hose. You find you can choose
between hoses of 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch inner diameter. Compare the rates at which water
flows through the two types of hoses (i.e. the ratio of rates).

The hose with the diameter of inches will have a smaller flow rate than the hose that has a
diameter of 5/8 inches. This is proven by substituting the following the two values for the
diameter of the hose into the equation Q=C d n . In the equation, Q represents the flow rate, C
is a constant, d is the diameter of the hose and n is 4. N=4 because of the relationship between
resistance (R), a cylinders length (L), diameter (d) and k, which is another constant that will not
be changed because the liquid that flows through the hoses is the same for both diameters. This
kL
equation shows the relationship between R, L and d for laminar flow: R= 4 . C is defined by
d
p
the equation C= , where p is the change in pressure, k is a constant that does not
kL
change because the liquid flowing through the hose is consistant, thus will have the same
viscosity and density, and L is the length of the hose. Therefore, when the two different diameter
values are substituted for d, Q(1/2)=C(1/2)^4, and Q(5/8)=C(5/8)^4. If C is kept constant, then
Q(1/2)=0.0625 in3/s, whereas Q(5/8)=0.153 in3/s. This proves that the hose with a diameter of 5/8
inches has a faster flow rate.

Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank my lab partner, Joohwan Kim, my TA, Bingran Wang, and my professor,
Meni Wanunu.

References
[1] O.Batishchev and A.Hyde, Introductory Physics Laboratory, Hayden-McNeil, 2016.