Abstract
This study introduces a new approach to a falling ball viscometer by using a high speed motion camera to measure the viscosity of both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids from the velocity-time data. This method involves capturing continuous photographs of the entire falling motion of the ball as the ball accelerates from the rest to the terminal velocity state. The velocity of a falling ball was determined from the distance traversed by the ball by examining video tape frame by frame using the marked graduations on the surface of the cylinder. Each frame was pre-set at 0.01. Glycerin 74% was used for Newtonian solution, while aqueous solutions of Polyacrylamide and Carboxymethyl Cellulose were for non-Newtonian solutions. The experimental viscosity data were in good agreements with the results obtained from a rotating Brookfield viscometer.