Experiment 1

Specific Gravity Determination

Objective:

The activity aims to determine the specific gravity of fluid using a U – tube manometer.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

At the end of the activity the students shall be able to:

1. Explain the concept of specific gravity as one of the fundamental properties of fluid.
2. Demonstrate the determination of heights of different fluids inside the U tube manometer.
3. Identify the specific gravity of fluid.

Discussion:

Specific gravity of a fluid is the dimensionless ratio of the specific weight y or density p of a fluid to
the specific weight ys or density ps of the standard substance,

y p
s= 
y s ps

For liquids and solids, the standard substance is pure water at 4ºC at which temperature, its specific
weight, ys = 9.81 KN/m3 and density ps = 1000 kg/m3 are at their maximum values. With these constants,
equation 1.1 may be used to compute the specific weight and density of a fluid given its specific gravity s.
For gases, the standard substance is either hydrogen or air at 0ºC and under a pressure of 101.3 KPa. Air
at this temperature and pressure has ys = 12.7 N/m3 and ps = 1.29 kg/m3.

The specific gravity should not be confused with the density since these are two different properties
of a substance, the first one being dimensionless and the second having the dimensions kg/m 3 or gm/cm3.
In the SI units, however, these two are numerically equal if the density is expressed in gm/cm 3. For example,
water has specific gravity of unity and a density of 1 gm/cm3.
Resources/Instruments Required:

 U – tube manometer
 Scale
 Mercury
 Liquids whose specific gravity are to be determined

1. Procedure:

1. Pour an amount of distilled water in the U – tube glass manometer

2. Add an amount of oil in the U – tube glass manometer until it stands
3. Measure the heights of the water and oil inside the U – tube manometer.
4. Evaluate the specific gravity of the unknown liquid using the derived formula below.
S 1h1
S2
h2

5. Perform steps 1 to 4 with other liquids. For heavy fluids, use mercury as standard fluid.

Group No.: 6 Section: CE41FB1

Date Performed: November 12, 2016 Date Submitted: November 19, 2016
Group Members: Mabanta, Michelle Instructor: Engr. Jennifer Camino
Araojo, Shenna
Bañadera, Manuel
Catalan, Jennivieve Quenn Anzhel
Eugenio, John Lester
Georfo, Joyce
San Miguel, Abraham James
Sarabia, Ma. Erneilaine
2. Data Results:

Liquid h1 (oil) h2 (liquid) S

Oil and water 17.5 cm 22 cm 0.7955

Oil and vinegar 20.6 cm 21.2 cm 0.8187

Oil and soy sauce 19 cm 19.5 cm 0.8164

Oil and soda 16 cm 16.6 cm 0.8253

3. Observations:

We observe that the height difference of oil and water has the bigger value, while the vinegar, soy

sauce, and soda has the smaller difference. This might be the effect of their different specific gravity.

It is important to make sure that the liquid poured in the U-tube manometer did not have bubbles

because it can greatly affect data.

4. Analysis

Oil and water Oil and Soy Sauce

𝑆𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 ℎ1 𝑆𝑠𝑜𝑦 𝑠𝑎𝑢𝑐𝑒 ℎ1
𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 = 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 =
ℎ2 ℎ2

(1)(17.5) 𝑆𝑠𝑜𝑦 𝑠𝑎𝑢𝑐𝑒 (19)

𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 = 0.7955 =
22 19.5

𝑺𝒐𝒊𝒍 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟗𝟓𝟓 𝑺𝒔𝒐𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒖𝒄𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟏𝟔𝟒

Oil and vinegar Oil and Soda

𝑆𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 ℎ1 𝑆𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑎 ℎ1
𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 = 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 =
ℎ2 ℎ2

𝑆𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟 (20.6) 𝑆𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑎 (16)

0.7955 = 0.7955 =
(21.2) 16.6

𝑺𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟏𝟖𝟕 𝑺𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒂 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟐𝟓𝟑

|%𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 − %𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 | |0.8164 − 0.8|

%𝑬 = %𝑬𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒖𝒄𝒆 = × 100%
%𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 0.8
= 𝟐. 𝟎𝟓 %
|0.7955 − 0.8|
%𝑬𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 = × 100% |0.8253 − 0.8|
0.8 %𝑬𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒂 = × 100%
= 𝟎. 𝟓𝟔 % 0.8
= 𝟑. 𝟏𝟕 %
|0.8187 − 0.8|
%𝑬𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓 = × 100% Therefore the percent error of our experiment
0.8
= 𝟐. 𝟑𝟒 % is less than 5%.
5. Conclusion:

In this experiment performed, we obtained the specific gravity of mixed oil and different kinds of liquids.

The liquid with the largest specific gravity is the oil and soda, 0.8253, it simply takes that the soda is

denser than the other liquids. When the specific gravity of the liquid is equal to zero, the liquid must be a

water. If the specific gravity is less than 1 the liquid will float when mix with water, and its specific gravity

is greater than 1, the liquid will sink if it is mix with water.

Questions and Problems
1. A certain gas weighs 7 KN/m3 at a certain temperature and pressure. What are the values of its
density, specific volume, and specific gravity relative to air weighing 12 N/m3?
𝜌
𝑊0 = 𝜌𝑔 𝑦=𝜌 𝑦 = 583.334
𝑎𝑖𝑟

7𝐾𝑁 12 1
= 𝜌(9.81) 𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 9.81 𝑟=𝑝
𝑚3

7000𝑁
𝑚3 1
𝜌= 𝑟 = 713.558
9.81

713.558
𝝆 = 𝟕𝟏𝟑. 𝟓𝟓𝟖𝒌𝒈/𝒎𝟑 𝑦= 𝒓 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟎𝟏𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝟓𝟓𝟖 𝒎𝟑 ⁄𝒌𝒈
1.2223

2. If 5.30 m3 of certain oil weighs 43,860 N, calculate the specific weight, density and specific volume.
𝑤 𝑀 𝑗
𝑣 = 5.80𝑚3 𝑦= 𝑣
𝜌= 𝑣
𝑣𝑠 = 𝑝

43860 4470.948 1
𝑤 = 43,860 = 8.30
= 5.30
= 843.575𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

𝑤 𝟖𝟐𝟕𝟓.𝟒𝟕𝑲𝑵 𝟖𝟒𝟑.𝟓𝟕𝟓𝑲𝒈 𝟏.𝟏𝟖𝟓𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎𝟑

𝑚= 𝒚= 𝝆= 𝒗𝒔 =
𝑎 𝒎𝟑 𝒎𝟐 𝒌𝒈

43860
𝑚=
9.81

3. The density of alcohol is 790 kg/m3. Calculate its specific weight, specific gravity and specific volume.
Given:
𝑘𝑔 𝜌𝑎 1
𝜌 = 790 𝑆𝑔 = 𝑉𝑠 =
𝑚3 𝜌𝑙 𝜌

790 1
𝑊𝑠 = 𝑦 = 𝜌𝑔 = 1000 = 790

𝑘𝑔 𝒎𝟑
(790 𝑚3 ) (9.81) 𝑺𝒈 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟗 𝑽𝒔 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟔𝟔𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒌𝒈

= 7749.9

4. A cubic meter of air at 101.3 Kpa and 15ºC weighs 12 N, what is its specific volume?

𝑃
𝜌=
𝑅𝑇
1 𝑅𝑇 287(15 + 273)
𝑆𝑣 = = =
𝑒 𝑃 (101.3)(1000)
𝑺𝒗 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟏𝟔 𝒎𝟑 ⁄𝒌𝒈
5. What is the standard fluid used in hydraulics and what are its standard properties?
Water
o Coefficient of volume expansion
o Coefficient of compressibility
o Thermal conductivity
o Density
o Pressure
o Viscosity
o Temperature
Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

CRITERIA BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT SCORE

1 2 3

I. Laboratory Skills
Manipulative Members do not demonstrate Members always
Members occasionally
needed skills. demonstrate needed skills. demonstrate needed skills.
Skills

Members are able to set-up

Members are unable to set- Members are able to set-up
Experimental Set-up the material with minimum
up the materials. the materials with supervision.
supervision.

Members occasionally Members always

Members do not demonstrate
Process Skills demonstrate targeted process demonstrate targeted
targeted process skills.
skills. process skills.

Members follow safety Members follow safety

Safety Precautions Members do not follow safety
precautions. precautions most of the time. precautions at all times.

II. Work Habits

Members finish ahead of

Time Management / Members do not finish on Members finish on time with
time with complete data and
Conduct of Experiment time with incomplete data. incomplete data.
time to revise data.

Members do not know their Members have defined Members are on tasks and
tasks and have no defined responsibilities most of the have defined responsibilities
Cooperative and
responsibilities. Group time. Group conflicts are at all times. Group conflicts
Teamwork
conflicts have to be settled by cooperatively managed most are cooperatively managed
the teacher. of the time. at all times.

Clean and orderly workplace Clean and orderly workplace

Messy workplace during and
Neatness and Orderliness with occasional mess during at all times during and after
after the experiment.
and after the experiment. the experiment.

Ability to do independent Members require occasional Members do not need to be

Members require supervision
work by the teacher. supervision by the teacher. supervised by the teacher.

Other Comments / Observations:

TOTAL SCORE
RATING = ( TotalScore ) x 100%
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