Fluid Dynamics Lab: Viscosity of Biological Fluids
Description
A complete 3-hour lab exploring fluid viscosity through biologically relevant examples including blood flow models and synovial fluid analysis. Students collect viscosity data using falling-sphere viscometry and rotational rheometry, then apply Poiseuille's law to predict flow rates in model vascular systems.
Highlights
Real biological fluids (glycerin-based blood analogues, synthetic synovial fluid). Connects Newtonian & non-Newtonian behavior to clinical relevance. Includes pre-lab assessment, in-lab data collection, and post-lab analysis components. Tested across 4 semesters with 600+ students.
Instructor Guide
Duration
3 hours (1 lab session)
Equipment Required
Standard physics lab equipment
Implementation Tips
Prepare glycerin-based blood analogues at least 24 hours in advance — viscosity stabilizes overnight. The falling-sphere procedure takes ~40 minutes (longer than the manual estimates). If you skip the rotational rheometer section, the lab fits comfortably in 2.5 hours. We recommend Vernier LoggerPro for data collection, but any graphing software works.
How This Fits in Your Course
Best placed after covering Newton's laws and before thermodynamics. Students should understand force, velocity, and basic calculus (integrals). This lab bridges mechanics and the life-science applications that come later in the semester.
Files & Links (5)
viscosity-lab-manual.pdf
Lab Manual2.4 MBFull student-facing lab manual with procedures, data tables, and analysis questions.
instructor-notes.docx
Instructor Guide89 KBSetup instructions, safety notes, common student misconceptions, and grading rubric.
data-worksheet.xlsx
Data Analysis Tool156 KBPre-formatted data collection worksheet with built-in analysis formulas.
pre-lab-quiz.docx
Assessment / Quiz78 KB10-question pre-lab quiz assessing background knowledge on fluid dynamics.
PhET Fluid Simulation
SimulationInteractive PhET simulation for exploring fluid pressure and flow (used in pre-lab).
Discussion (3)
We ran this last semester with our IPLS section. Students really engaged with the blood analogue portion — the clinical connection made the physics feel real. One note: the falling-sphere procedure takes longer than estimated (plan 40+ min, not 25).
Great feedback, Kevin! We've heard that from others too — updating the time estimate in the next revision. Did you use the rotational rheometer section or skip it?
The pre-lab quiz is excellent for identifying students who need extra scaffolding. I added a brief concept map activity before the quiz and it really helped bridge the gap for students without strong fluids background.
Any plans to make this remote-ready? We'd love to use the simulation-based pre-lab portion as a standalone activity for our online section.
Authors
Dr. Sarah Chen
PrimaryUniversity of Washington
Dr. Anika Patel
Boston University
IPLS Curriculum Group
TeamMulti-institutional
Completeness
97%Exemplary
All key fields filled — ready for review
Add to improve
+ Adaptation context (+2pts)
+ Remote-ready flag set (+1pts)
Help Wanted
Looking for feedback on the scaffolding approach — not sure if the jump from pre-lab to in-lab is too steep for intro-level students. Also open to alternative assessment strategies beyond the pre/post quiz model.
Review Pipeline
Topics
Pedagogies
Skills Developed
License
CC BY-SA 4.0
Same as CC BY, but adaptations must use the same license.
Activity
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