Open AccessThe effect of temperature on the viscosity of air
Author(s) -
Frank Archer Williams
Publication year - 1926
Publication title -
proceedings of the royal society of london. series a, containing papers of a mathematical and physical character
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2053-9150
pISSN - 0950-1207
DOI - 10.1098/rspa.1926.0150
Subject(s) - thermodynamics , atmospheric temperature range , degree rankine , viscosity , curvature , range (aeronautics) , mathematics , graph , air temperature , materials science , physics , meteorology , geometry , discrete mathematics , composite material
In a recent paper Prof. A. 0. Rankine has put forward a number of criticisms of the results obtained from, and the experimental method employed in, the determination of the temperature coefficient of viscosity of air by the present author. In the first place, a comparison is drawn between the author’s results and those of other observers in the lower part of the temperature range, and the conclusion is drawn therefrom that there is a possibility of an error of 3 percent, in the author’s measurements throughout the whole range of temperature used. This inference is reached from the figures quoted in Table II of Rankine’s paper, in which the temperature range from 15° to 183° C. is considered. That some difference exists between the author’s results and those of other observers in the lower part of the temperature range is clear, but it must again be emphasised that the values given for low temperatures are not experimental values, but were obtained by an extension of the graph (fig. 2) for higher temperature measurements to the value of the viscosity as given by Millikanj for room temperatures. A slight alteration of the curvature of this extension would make an appreciable change in the ratios η100/η15 and η183/η15 , but this would not be sufficient to account for the curvature at B in fig. 3 of the original paper. If the values of T⅜ /η for Breitenbach’s results at 182° C. and 302° C. are plotted on this curve, they lie above the present results and on a curve which would intersect AB at about 600° C. That part of the difference is due to this cause seems to be indicated by the fact that the difference diminishes as the temperature rises. Thus at 300° C. the following values of η300/η15 are obtained by Breitenbach, the only other worker at this temperature, and the author. The figures used are those given by Rankine.