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Practical 7 Discussion

The document outlines a practical experiment to determine the relative density of liquids using a U-tube, emphasizing the importance of adding the higher density liquid first and ensuring accurate height measurements. It highlights the need for specific conditions, such as maintaining a minimum height for the denser liquid and using appropriate liquid types to avoid errors. Additionally, it addresses the impact of surface tension and the necessity of distinguishing between the liquids used in the experiment.

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U.P.A. Yasiru kalahansa karunanayaka
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58 views2 pages

Practical 7 Discussion

The document outlines a practical experiment to determine the relative density of liquids using a U-tube, emphasizing the importance of adding the higher density liquid first and ensuring accurate height measurements. It highlights the need for specific conditions, such as maintaining a minimum height for the denser liquid and using appropriate liquid types to avoid errors. Additionally, it addresses the impact of surface tension and the necessity of distinguishing between the liquids used in the experiment.

Uploaded by

U.P.A. Yasiru kalahansa karunanayaka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Practical 7

Discussion
1. A pair of values for hl and hw can be determined and substituted into the first equation
to find the relative density of the liquid directly. However, in this experiment, a
graphical method is used in order to minimize the impact of random errors.

2. To draw a graph, the height measurements hl and hw must be varied. For this purpose,
the liquid of lower density should be repeatedly added to the U-tube. If the liquid of
higher density is added, the newly added liquid column will split into two equal-height
segments along both arms, and as a result, the height of the liquid columns measured
from the horizontal level across the interface will not change.

3. The liquid with higher density should be added to the U-tube first. If the liquid with
lower density is added first and then the liquid with higher density is added afterward,
the denser liquid will sink to the bottom of the U-tube, causing the less dense liquid to
split and separate into both arms. As a result, the experiment cannot be conducted in
accordance with the theoretical basis upon which it is built.

4. If two separate meter rulers are used to measure the heights of the liquid columns, then
to accurately obtain the value of hw from the difference between the x and z readings,
the zero marks of both rulers must be aligned on the same horizontal level.

5. To ensure that the percentage error in measuring the lengths of the liquid columns
always remains below 1%, the initial height of the denser liquid column should be
more than 10 cm, and an appropriate height of the less dense liquid should be added to
the tube first.

6. It is not essential for the internal cross-sectional diameters of both arms of the U-tube
to be equal. However, to disregard the effect of surface tension, the arms should not be
too narrow (an internal diameter of about 1 cm is sufficient).

7. If this experiment is used to determine the relative density of a liquid with very high
density, such as mercury, the height of that liquid column will be considerably small,
resulting the percentage error of that height measurement to exceed 1%.
8. This experiment is not suitable for two liquids that have the same colour. Furthermore,
this experiment is more appropriate for two immiscible liquids. If the experiment is to
be conducted with two miscible liquids, a third liquid which is denser than both and
immiscible with both of them, should first be added to the U-tube.

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