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On the limitation imposed by gravity on measurements of the critical viscosity of a pure fluid
Author(s) -
Ferrell Richard A.,
Moldover Michael R.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
annalen der physik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1521-3889
pISSN - 0003-3804
DOI - 10.1002/andp.19945060306
Subject(s) - mechanics , inertial frame of reference , viscosity , physics , stratification (seeds) , penetration (warfare) , volume viscosity , classical mechanics , viscous liquid , gravitation , electrostriction , thermodynamics , acoustics , mathematics , seed dormancy , germination , botany , operations research , dormancy , biology , piezoelectricity
Abstract Measurements of the viscosity of a fluid by means of a parallel plate torsional oscillator are conventionally limited to a plate separation that is much larger than the viscous penetration depth of the fluid contained between the plates. Here we demonstrate that, in principle, useful measurements can be carried out in the opposite regime where the thickness is smaller than the penetration depth. An alternative method, described in the last part of this paper, for alleviating the restriction imposed by the density stratification that results from the earth's gravity, is to use electrostriction, rather than the inertial force, to drive the fluid between the plates.