Investigating how the viscosity of oil varies with temperature

Equipment

pipette with hole in bulb and an upper and lower mark made on the pipette stem
blu-tak
250 cm³ conical flask
test tube
vegetable oil
thermometer
stopwatch

Method

1. Half fill the conical flask with hot water
2. Half fill the test tube with vegetable oil and place the test tube into the conical flask of hot water
3. Place the thermometer into the test tube
4. Wait for the temperature of the oil to reach the same temperature as the water
5. Record the temperature of the oil
6. Using blu-tak to block the hole in the bulb, fill the pipette to the upper mark
7. Lift the pipette out of the oil (but keep it inside the test tube) and time how long it takes for the oil to drain down to the lower mark when the hole in the bulb is uncovered
8. Repeat steps 5-7 for different (cooler) temperatures of oil.

Risk assessment

hazard	risk	probability	mitigation
glassware	cuts	low	place glassware in centre of desk
hot oil	burns	low	handle hot oil with care; run burns under cold water
slippery oil	slips and falls	low	immediately clean up spilled oil; inform others of spill

There are no other significant risks.

Images

Investigating how the viscosity of oil varies with temperature

Equipment

pipette with hole in bulb and an upper and lower mark made on the pipette stem
250 cm³ conical flask
test tube
vegetable oil
thermometer
stopwatch

Method

1. Half fill the conical flask with hot water
2. Half fill the test tube with vegetable oil and place the test tube into the conical flask of hot water
3. Place the thermometer into the test tube
4. Wait for the temperature of the oil to reach the same temperature as the water
5. Record the temperature of the oil
6. Cover the hole in the pipette bulb and fill the pipette to the upper mark
7. Lift the pipette out of the oil (but keep it inside the test tube) and time how long it takes for the oil to drain down to the lower mark when the hole in the bulb is uncovered
8. Repeat steps 5-7 for different (cooler) temperatures of oil.

Risk assessment

hazard	risk	probability	mitigation
glassware	cuts	low	place glassware in centre of desk
hot oil	burns	low	handle hot oil with care; run burns under cold water

There are no other significant risks.

Images

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