Castor oil at 20^{\circ}\;C has a coefficient of viscosity 2.42\;N\,s\, /m^2 and density 940\; kg/m^3. Calculate the terminal velocity of steel ball of radius 2\;mm falling under gravity in the oil, taking density of steel as 7800\;kg/m^3.

Given,
Here coefficient of viscosity of castor oil (\eta) = 2.42\; Ns/m^2
Density of the oil (\sigma) = 940\;kg/m^3
Radius of the steel ball (r) = 2\;mm = 0.002\;m
Density of the steel (\rho) = 7800\;kg/m^3
Terminal velocity (v) = ?


When the steel ball falls downward with terminal velocity (v), then
Total upward force = Total downward force
Viscous force (F) + Upthrust (U) = Weight of the steel ball (W)
F = W  -  U
6\; \pi \; \eta \; r \; v = \frac{4}{3} \pi \; r^3 \; \rho \; g - \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 \sigma g

By Solving, we get
v = \frac{2\;r^2\;(\rho - \sigma)\;g}{9\; \eta} = \frac{2 \, (0.002)^2 \; * \; (7800 \; - \; 940)\;*\;10}{9\; * \; 2.42} = 0.025\;m/s
\therefore Hence, the required terminal velocity of the steel ball is 0.025\;m/s

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