Ball in Viscous Fluid Simulation

This simulation demonstrates the motion of spherical objects falling through viscous fluids, comparing two different scenarios simultaneously.

Note that the number in parentheses beside each fluid or each ball material is the specific gravity.

The specific gravity is the ratio of the density of that material to the density of water. Hence, the specific gravity of water is 1.

The specific gravity of olive oil being 0.92 means that olive oil has a density that is 92% of that of water.

Aluminum, on the other hand, has a density of 2.7 times that of water.

Physics Principles:

• Stokes' Law: Drag force = 6πηrv (η = viscosity, r = radius, v = velocity)
• Terminal Velocity: Achieved when drag force equals gravitational force
• Buoyancy: Upward force = weight of displaced fluid (Archimedes' principle)
• Net Acceleration: a = g(ρ_ball - ρ_fluid)/ρ_ball - (drag force)/m

Key Parameters:

Current Status:

Graph Options:

View the motion as:

• Position vs. time
• Velocity vs. time
• Acceleration vs. time