Viscosity and the real world

BLM 8-12

1. A straw that is served with a soft drink is usually different from a straw served with a milkshake. Explain how and why the straws are different.

A straw that is served with a milkshake has a larger diameter than the one served with the soft drink.

A milkshake is more viscous than a soft drink so a larger straw is needed in order to “suck up” an adequate amount to drink.

2. (a) If you had to design a pipeline to transport molasses from one part of a factory to another, how would the diameter of the pipeline for molasses differ from the diameter of the water pipes in the factory? Why?

(a) The pipeline for the molasses would be larger than the one for the water because the molasses is moreviscous.

(b) What could you do to make the molasses flow more quickly?

The pipe might also be heated in order to reduce the viscosity of the molasses so it will flow more easily.

3. (a) Some viscous liquids come in squeeze bottles. Identify several examples and list them here.

3. (a) Several viscous liquids are available in squeeze bottles, including chocolate syrup, nacho cheese sauce,shampoos, ketchup, etc.

(b) Does this type of bottle make it easier or harder to use the product? Explain your answer.

(b) This type of bottle makes it easier to use the product because you do not have to wait for the product to flow out of the bottle. You can give the product a “push” by squeezing the bottle, which compresses the product and forces it out of the bottle more quickly.