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Viscosity of Liquids
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We dropped six pebbles into a graduated cylinder filled with water to a height of 18.5 cm. We timed each descent. We repeated the experiment with corn syrup instead of water.

Time it takes, in seconds, for a pebble to sink through a liquid

Trial

water

corn syrup

1

0.38 seconds

49.60 seconds

2

0.31 seconds

59.68 seconds

3

0.40 seconds

66.16 seconds

4

0.42 seconds

50.25 seconds

5

0.47 seconds

54.35 seconds

6

0.34 seconds

55.50 seconds

Average

0.39 seconds

59.92 seconds

There was some variation from one pebble to the next in each liquid, but the time to reach the bottom of the water was much faster than in corn syrup, an average of .39 seconds in water as compared to an average of 59.92 seconds in corn syrup. Corn syrup has a higher viscosity than water.

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  1.   Digging Deeper  

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    viscosity of liquids.

     

    Repeat this experiment with different liquids. Try various kinds of vegetable or mineral oil, honey, and alcohol.

  2. In our experiment the liquids were at room temperature. Compare water and corn syrup, but cool each liquid in a refrigerator for about 15 minutes before the experiment. Then try using warm corn syrup and water. You can warm the corn syrup by immersing the graduated cylinder in a pot of warm water for about 15 minutes. Also use that same water for the experiment.
     

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