In Millikan's oil drop experiment,what is the terminal speed of an uncharged drop of radius $2.0 \times 10^{-5} \; m$ and density $1.2 \times 10^{3} \; kg \; m^{-3}$? Take the viscosity of air at the temperature of the experiment to be $1.8 \times 10^{-5} \; Pa \; s$. How much is the viscous force on the drop at that speed? Neglect buoyancy of the drop due to air.

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) Given:
Radius $r = 2.0 \times 10^{-5} \; m$
Density $\rho = 1.2 \times 10^{3} \; kg \; m^{-3}$
Viscosity $\eta = 1.8 \times 10^{-5} \; Pa \; s$
Acceleration due to gravity $g = 9.8 \; m \; s^{-2}$
Terminal velocity $v$ is given by the formula:
$v = \frac{2r^2(\rho - \rho_0)g}{9\eta}$
Since we neglect buoyancy,$\rho_0 = 0$.
$v = \frac{2 \times (2.0 \times 10^{-5})^2 \times (1.2 \times 10^3) \times 9.8}{9 \times 1.8 \times 10^{-5}}$
$v = \frac{2 \times 4.0 \times 10^{-10} \times 1.2 \times 10^3 \times 9.8}{16.2 \times 10^{-5}}$
$v = \frac{94.08 \times 10^{-7}}{16.2 \times 10^{-5}} \approx 5.8 \times 10^{-2} \; m \; s^{-1} = 5.8 \; cm \; s^{-1}$
Viscous force $F$ is given by Stokes' Law:
$F = 6 \pi \eta r v$
$F = 6 \times 3.14 \times 1.8 \times 10^{-5} \times 2.0 \times 10^{-5} \times 5.8 \times 10^{-2}$
$F \approx 3.9 \times 10^{-10} \; N$

Explore More

Similar Questions

If an air bubble of diameter $2 \text{ mm}$ rises steadily through a liquid of density $2000 \text{ kg/m}^3$ at a rate of $0.5 \text{ cm/s}$,then the coefficient of viscosity of the liquid is . . . . . . $\text{Poise}$. (Take $g = 10 \text{ m/s}^2$)

$Assertion :$ Falling raindrops acquire a terminal velocity.
$Reason :$ $A$ constant force in the direction of motion and a velocity dependent force opposite to the direction of motion,always result in the acquisition of terminal velocity.

An air bubble of radius $1 \ cm$ rises from the bottom portion through a liquid of density $1.5 \ g/cc$ at a constant speed of $0.25 \ cm \ s^{-1}$. If the density of air is neglected,the coefficient of viscosity of the liquid is approximately,(in $Pa \ s$):

Spherical balls of radius $r$ are falling in a viscous fluid of viscosity $\eta$ with a velocity $v$. The retarding viscous force acting on the spherical ball is

The terminal velocity of a sphere of radius $3 \ mm$ falling in a viscous liquid is $10 \ cm/s$. The terminal velocity of a ball of radius $6 \ mm$ of the same material falling in the same liquid will be $...... \ cm/s$.

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo