Viscous Force on Falling Ball – Rankers Physics

Surface Tension and Viscosity: Practice Problem & Solution

The velocity of a small ball of mass \(m\) and density \(d\), when dropped in a container filled with glycerine becomes constant after sometime. If the density of glycerine is \(\frac{d}{2}\), then the viscous force acting on the ball will be
\(2mg\)
\(\frac{mg}{2}\)
\(mg\)
\(\frac{3}{2}mg\)

Short Solution (Best for NEET):

To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of Surface Tension and Viscosity. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:

At terminal velocity, net force is zero: \(F_v + F_B = mg\). Here, buoyant force \(F_B = V\left(\frac{d}{2}\right)g = \frac{mg}{2}\). Thus, the viscous force is \(F_v = mg - \frac{mg}{2} = \frac{mg}{2}\).

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