Application of Stokes' Law: a didactic experiment in Transport Phenomena

Abstract

This work aimed to contribute to studies on the elaboration and implementation of proposals for didactic activity based on an investigative experiment. The work describes an experiment for academic purposes to determine the specific mass and dynamic viscosity of a fluid using the Stokes Method, a simple and low-cost experimental procedure that enables the teaching/learning process of different concepts in the area of Fluid Mechanics, applied to the field of Engineering. The values obtained for specific mass - (899.60 ± 18.00) kg/m³, (996.00 ± 19.93) kg/m³, and (1,298.00 ± 25.97) kg/m³ - and dynamic viscosity - (0.080 ± 0.001) Pa.s, (0.649 ± 0.007) Pa.s, and (0.885 ± 0.015) Pa.s  - respectively for the fluids refined soy vegetable oil, detergent and glycerin were close to the values found in the literature and showed a low degree of propagated uncertainty. The development of this implementation was carried out with the support of the EES software and it is presented as a proposal for a didactic activity based on an investigative experiment in Fluid Mechanics.