EXPERIMENTAL SKILLS MCQ Quiz: GKFix

Question 1

If a student measures the time for a ball to fall between two marks very close to the liquid's surface, what potential error might they introduce?

The liquid might splash
Measuring the time before the ball reaches terminal velocity, leading to an inaccurate viscosity calculation
The ball might hit the sides
The marks might be hard to see

Question 2

What is the primary role of the 'wide bore' aspect of the tube in minimizing experimental errors?

Minimizing evaporation of the liquid
Minimizing temperature fluctuations
Minimizing errors due to the influence of the tube walls on the flow around the ball

Question 3

If two steel balls of different radii but made of the same material are dropped in the same viscous liquid, which will generally have a higher terminal velocity?

The smaller ball
The larger ball
They will have the same terminal velocity
It depends on the height of the tube

Question 4

How does the size (radius) of the spherical ball generally affect its terminal velocity in a given viscous liquid?

Smaller balls have a higher terminal velocity
Larger balls have a higher terminal velocity
All balls have the same terminal velocity regardless of size
It depends on the liquid's density

Question 5

What is the fundamental principle behind using a falling ball to determine liquid viscosity?

Measuring the time it takes for the ball to reach the bottom
Measuring the ball's acceleration
Measuring the ball's terminal velocity and using Stokes' law to relate it to the liquid's viscosity