Experiment 2: Fluid Dynamics

INTRODUCTION

The laboratory set-up for this fluid dynamics experiment was a bucket filled with water to a height h. A hole was previously drilled onto the bottom of the bucket and taped shut prior to filling it with water. The purpose of this experiment is to conduct a six-trial experiment to test the time it takes to empty a predetermined volume V onto a 300mL beaker, and compare the experimental results with the theoretical calculations based on
t_theoretical = V/(A (2gh)^0.5) to reach the same volume.

DATA

ANALYSIS

The accuracy of the time for the Volume to empty was far off as the theoretical 6.099+/-0.022secs and experimental 12.95+/-0.01secs values did not agree within the acceptable uncertainty. There was a 111.57% error time calculated (secs). The timed data was uniformly precise; therefore it can be assumed that the laboratory set up could be the source of error. One aspect that was noticeable during the experiment was the imperfect perforation of the drain hole and an uneven lesser area than the theoretical diameter calculated area based on diameter.

            With an error in diameter in mind, the experimental drain time data was used to calculate the actual diameter of the hole. The calculation of true diameter resulted in 0.00432m+/0.00001m. Compared with the initial theoretical diameter 0.00630m+/-0.00001m, this resulted in a 31.43% error discrepancy.

CONCLUSION

This fluid dynamics experiment did not result in accurate but precise data. The initial assumption that the diameter was a perfect circle was an error in calculating t_theoretical. Volume empty time did not agree within the uncertainty of either calculation of actual or theoretical. An actual diameter was therefore calculated from the actual experimental pouring time average calculation. The actual diameter was ~31% smaller than the proposed initial diameter and was the error of accuracy related to this lab.