When picking up a 12 ounce coke can filled with water weights ranging from 20 mL to 60mL, does the viscosity of a hydraulic fluid in the syr

A cardboard hydraulic arm was built and was powered using syringes. The fluid inside of the syringes was manipulated to figure out how different viscosity levels of fluids affect the performance of hydraulics when lifting weight.
Princeveer Kailay Yuvraj Dhillon
Grade 9

Hypothesis

When adding 4 different fluids of different viscosity levels (Power Steering fluid, Synthetic Brake fluid, Full Synthetic motor oil, Water) in the syringes of the hydraulic arm one at a time, we believe the Synthetic Brake Fluid will perform the best at picking up the heaviest load and transporting it to the required distance of 30cm. We believe this as the Synthetic Brake fluid is not very viscous meaning it will have a faster response time and will flow faster compared to Full Synthetic Motor Oil and  Power Steering Fluid. On the other hand, It will be viscous enough to generate enough power. In our background research it is stated, if the fluid is too viscous the response time will be slow and the fluid will not flow. We also know that Power Steering and Full Synthetic Motor Oil are very viscous so they may not work best. It also says, if fluid is too less viscous it may not generate enough energy. We also know water is the least viscous. Using our background research, we think Synthetic Brake fluid will work most efficient.

 

Research

What are hydraulics? 

Hydraulics are machines that use the Pascal’s law to function. Pascal’s law states that when pressure is applied to a enclosed fluid it gets distributed evenly throughout the enclosed area. The pressure created inside the hydraulics causes one end of the hydraulic to move. The hydraulics are made of a cylinder, a pump and valves. The pump is where the Pascal’s law does it’s work. In the cylinder there is a piston rod which creates the pressure of the fluid allowing it to move the hydraulic. The pump is the part that powers the piston and allows it to move. Valves in the hydraulic allow the fluid to move in different direction. This allows the hydraulic to move up,down,left and right.

 

What are the uses of hydraulics? 

There are many uses of hydraulics. Hydraulics are used to carry heavy materials easily. Many things that we see in our everyday life are hydraulics. Cranes are the best  example of hydraulics. Cranes move things horizontally and vertically all with the help of fluids. This makes it easy to carry heavy materials. Another use of hydraulic includes transportation. In our cars that we drive every day, the brakes are hydraulics. Another hydraulic in your car is the suspension. Another form of transportation includes planes. There are countless hydraulics in aircrafts. When we use elevators instead of having to walk up stairs, the elevator operates because of hydraulics. It can move heavy loads of people with very less effort. This is why hydraulics are a thing in the first place. Back home in India, there is a lot of agriculture. Tractors also use hydraulics just like cars.

What type of fluids go in hydraulic arms? 

Hydraulic arms and  many other hydraulics use fluids based on viscosity, compressibility, environment factors, and temperature stability. Using this, many hydraulics use  a type of oil called Hydraulic Oil. Hydraulic Oil is non compressible. The hydraulic oil can either be synthetic or mineral based. Other fluids are also water based fluids, biodegradable fluids, and lastly fire resistant fluids.

 What is viscosity? 

Viscosity is one of the key properties of a fluid. It measures that ability of a fluid's resistance to flow. In hydraulic arms the viscosity is a key concept for the arm to work. This increases the efficiency of the arm. The performance of the arm would be much worse but the amount to fluid used how be a lot less. The less viscous fluid would flow through the pipes at a faster rate. This will increase pressure given to the arm. The more pressure would allow the performance to increase a lot. Less viscous fluid would have be better at moving one thing from one place to another. The less viscous fluid would be more effective. Temperature has a huge impact on the viscosity. The more the temperature increases the lesser the viscosity goes. The lower the temperature would mean the higher the viscosity. 

    Fluids Used

Properties of the fluids

Synthetic Brake Fluid

Synthetic Brake Fluid has the property of being very resistant to moisture and performing better in extreme conditions, viscosity is low. Second least viscous liquid. Better performance in lower temperatures.

Full Synthetic Motor Oil

The second most viscous liquid. Less friction in the liquid resulting in better performance. Keeps viscosity over a wide range of temperatures.  

Power Steering Fluid

Most viscous liquids out of all tested. Good with working under higher temperatures.

Control(Water)

Least viscous liquid of all tested, can fit into any space easily, low heat capacity.  

 

What is the relationship between viscosity and lifting weight ? 

In this experiment we are testing how different viscosity levels affect how much weight something can lift up. Viscosity and lifting weight go hand in hand. In a hydraulic, the arm depends on fluids to pick up heavy objects. If these fluids are not sufficient, the entire hydraulic may not work. If the fluid is too viscous, the fluid flow rate will be very slow. If the flow rate of a fluid is too slow, the responsive time of the arm will be delayed, and energy may lost. If the fluid is too viscous, the pump of the hydraulic would need to work harder. This would defeat the purpose of a hydraulic which is to make lifting heavy things more efficient. On the other side, if the fluid is too thin and a low level of viscosity, the viscosity may not generate enough energy/power to lift up heavy objects. Furthermore, hydraulic arms work more efficient with a fluid not too viscous or too less viscous.

 

High Viscosity in Hydraulic Arm vs Low Viscosity in Hydraulic Arm


 

High Viscosity Pros: 

  • Better under warm conditions 
  • Less leakage


High Viscosity Cons: 

  • Slow response time 
  • Bad under cold conditions
  • Pump requires more effort


Low Viscosity Pros: 

  • Faster flow rate 
  • Pump requires less effort
  • Better under cold conditions  

 

Low Viscosity Cons:

  •  Bad under warm conditions 
  •  High risk of leakage 
  • Bad under warm conditions

 

 

Variables

Controlled Variables: Object being lifted by the hydraulic arm, temperature of the fluid used, size of syringe, size of tubes connecting each syringe, the can, the starting position of the can at the start of experiment, finishing position of can through the experiment, fluid used as weight in the can. Weather conditions inside of testing room of experiment.

Uncontrolled Variables: Air bubbles may be getting formed in syringes 

Manipulated Variables: Type of fluids being used, Viscosity of fluids in syringes of the hydraulic arm.

Responding Variables: How much weight the hydraulic arm could carry.

 

Procedure

Procedure of the experiment

 

  1. Build the arm and control panel using the direction as explained in the next few slides.
  2. Fill up the four control panel syringes and tubing with Power Steering Fluid. Make sure there are no air bubbles.
  3. Attach the open end of the tubing to the other syringes
  4. Mark a Starting point and Finishing point 30 cm apart. 
  5. Put empty can on starting point. Push and Pull Plungers of syringes and try moving can from one point to another. 
  6. Repeat step 5 for all water weights and record observations.
  7. Repeat steps 1-6 for all fluids and water weights.

Procedure of the body

  1. Cut 20 cm by 4 cm rectangles out of cardboard.
  2. Drill a hole  close to the top on the piece of cardboard at either end.
  3. Repeat step one and two one more time.
  4. Cut out 2 8.5 by 8.5 square from the cardboard.
  5. Cut 2 26 cm by 4 cm rectangle with holes on either end like step 2.
  6. Cut a quadrilateral with the top of 4 cm, bottom of 7cm, and diagonal of 13cm.
  7. Drill a hole like the ones shown in the picture Insert a skewer into one of the 26cm by 4 cm rectangle. Take the other similar rectangle and insert the other end of the swerwer into the same hole as done before.                          (Pictures on the next slide)
  8. Secure with glue on each end.
  9. Attach 20cm by 4 cm rectangle  in the other hole of the 26cm by 4 cm rectangle on the outer end of each rectangle.  
  10. Secure with small cm by cm square to help movement.
  11. Take the quadrilaterals and attach them to the remaining holes of both 20 by 4 cm rectangle. Make it vertical so it can stand.
  12. Hot glue the two 8.5 by 8.5 cm squares together and then to the structure you made. 
  13. Drill a hole into the plunger of the syringe.
  14. Drill a hole into the center of both of  the 20by cm 4 cm rectangles.
  15. Take 2 zip ties tie them in loops. Take one zip ties and tie it to the front of the syringe.  Insert a skewer into the other loop of the zip ties.  Cut off the excess zip tie. Remove the skewer. 
  16. Insert the syringe in between both 20 cm by 4cm pieces.
  17. Do the same thing but this time add it to the support.
  18. Attach another syringe the same way but on the 20 by 4 cm rectangle.

                      

The top of 4 cm, bottom of 7cm,          20 cm by 4 cm                 26cm by 4 cm                  8.5 m by 8.5 cm

and diagonal of 13cm

      

 

Procedure of the Hydraulic arm 

  1. Cut out a diamond as shown in the picture.
  2. Cut out two hands as shown in the picture.
  3. Under adult supervision use pliers to bend on end of the metal rod.
  4. Insert hook into one of the last openings.
  5. Insert a skewer between one hand and the diamond with the hole right next to the hook.
  6. Add a cm by cm square to hold support. 
  7. Cut excess skewer.
  8. Add glue to end of skewer.
  9. Fold a small rectangle of cardboard into 3 parts.
  10. Using a small rectangular piece of cardboard fold it into 3 parts.
  11. Using a skewer attach this onto the last hole of the hand with glue to secure it down.
  12. Repeat for the other hand.
  13. Use hot glue on the top of the front of the body to attach the arm.
  14. Cut a hole into the 26 by 4 cm rectangle.
  15. Repeat step 15 also make 2 small holes in the top of the plunger. Put the syringe in between the front of the crane.
  16. Take the other end of the metal rods and squeeze them through the 2 small holes on the plunger.
  17. Cut 2*20cm by 20 cm cardboard squares. Hot glue them together.
  18. Drill a hole through the center of this square big enough for a old AA battery.
  19. Drill the same size hole into the base of the body.
  20. Attach the body to the new base via the battery. 
  21. Take a syringe and cut off the ends to the plunger like this. (Picture)
  22. ake 2 popsicle sticks, one piece of cardboard the height of the remaining plunger. And glue them together.
  23. Cut a hole through one end of the popsicle sticks and attach the syringe with the use of a skewer. Cut excess of skewer and secure with glue.
  24. Attach the base of the body with hot glue.

 

       

Procedure of the control panel

 

  1. Take a 30cm by 20cm rectangle and glue a 30cm by 2 cm rectangle on one of the edges. 
  2. Cut  4 popsicle sticks from the top and drill holes into the top of the cut stick.
  3. Glue them vertical about 7 cm apart on the 30 cm by 2cm piece.
  4. Repeat the popsicle stick, cardboard, syringe contraption but with the syringe in the middle. 
  5. Repeat until you have 4 contraptions.
  6. Attach to the control panel through the holes of the popsicle sticks. 
  7. The popsicle sticks holding the syringe should look like lever.
  8. Take one fluid and fill one syringe in the control panel.
  9. Add tubing from that syringes and attach to any syringe on the arm.
  10. Repeat for rest 3 fluids. 
  11. Push down one lever and observe what happens to the arm

Observations

   Trial 1 Observations

Trial 1 Power Steering Fluid 
  • It was very hard to push the syringes.
  • Yellow colour. 
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 20 mL of water, the Power steering fluid was not able to lift and move the coke can. 
  • Arm was able to lift 12 mL of water but required extreme effort.
  • The fluid was very viscous. 
  • The power steering fluid couldn't lift the coke can filled with 40 or 60 mL of water. 

Trial 1 Synthetic Brake Fluid
  • The fluid was clear.
  • Less viscous compared to some of the other fluids
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 20 mL of water, the Synthetic Brake fluid picked up the coke can and moved it effortlessly to the finishing point. 
  • The hand seemed to lose grip once we let go of the syringe controlling that area. 
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 40 mL of water, the Synthetic Brake fluid picked up the can
  • The syringe controlling the hand had to be held down. 
  • When picking up the can filled with 60 mL of water, the Synthetic Brake fluid successfully transported the coke can .
  • Syringes were easy to push and pull.

Trial 1 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
  • The fluid was one of the most viscous. 
  • Fluid has a yellow colour. 
  • The syringes are hard to push and pull. 
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 20 mL of fluid, the hydraulic arm moved it to the finishing point. 
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 40 mL of fluid, the hydraulic arm moved it to the finishing point but it took more effort than 20 ml.
  • The hydraulic Arm was not able to pick up the coke can filled with 60 mL of fluid.

Trial 1  Control (water)
  • Control fluid (Water) was a lot less viscous than other fluids
  • Clear colour. 
  • The control was able to pick up and move the empty coke can to the required distance very easily and required very less effort.
  • Was not able to pick up 40 mL. 
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 35 mL of water, the Hydraulic arm’s height only rose to half of its maximum height, and moved it to the finishing point.
  • Couldn't pick up any more weight.

Trial 2 Observations

Trial 2 Power Steering Fluid 
  • Lots of air bubbles were formed.
  • It was much harder to push the syringes.
  • Yellow colour.
  • Could not lift 20 mL. 
  • After some tries, Arm was able to lift 12 mL of water by pushing very hard. 
  • The arm was not able to lift or move 15 ml of water.
  • The fluid was very viscous.  
  • The syringes were nearly impossible to push.

Trial 2 Synthetic Brake Fluid
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 20 mL of water, the Synthetic Brake fluid picked up the coke can and moved it effortlessly to the finishing point. 
  • The hand seemed to lose grip once we let go of the syringe controlling that area. 
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 40 mL of water, the Synthetic Brake fluid picked up the can.
  • The syringe controlling the hand had to be held down.
  • The synthetic brake could only lift up 55 mL of water, but could not lift up 60 mL of water.

Trial 2 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
  • The fluid is viscous. 
  • Fluid has a yellow colour. 
  • The syringes are hard to push and pull .
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 20 mL of fluid, the hydraulic arm moved it to the finishing point. 
  • Picked up 40 mL.
  • Could not pick up 60 mL.
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 42 mL of fluid, the hydraulic arm moved it to the finishing point. 

Trial 2 Control (water)
  • Control fluid (Water) was clear, was a lot less viscous than other fluids.
  • Unlike trial 1, When picking up the coke can filled with 35 mL of water, the Hydraulic arm could not pick up the can. 
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 30 ml of water it moved the can to the required distance. 
  • Hydraulic arm couldn't pick up any more weight.

 

Trial 3 Observations

Trial 3 Power Steering Fluid 
  • More and more air bubbles continued to form inside syringes. 
  • Yellow colour. 
  • After some tries, Arm was able to lift 6 mL of water by pushing very hard.
  • Could not pick up 20 mL.
  • The arm was not able to lift 12 ml of water.
  • The fluid was very viscous.  
  • The syringes were nearly impossible to push.

Trial 3 Synthetic Brake Fluid
  • The fluid was clear.
  • Less viscous compared to other fluids. 
  • Syringes were easy to push and pull. 
  • As more and more water continued being added to the 12 ounce coke can, the hydraulic arm continued to lift it all the to 50 mL.
  • When picking up the 60 mL coke can it did not work. 
  • When the coke can was filled with 53 mL of water, the coke can was able to lift up and transport the coke can. 
  • Some of the syringes needed to be held down.

Trial 3 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
  •  The fluid is viscous. 
  • Fluid has a yellow colour. 
  • The syringes are hard to push and pull. 
  • When picking up the coke can filled with 20 mL-35 mL of fluid, the hydraulic arm moved it to the finishing point.
  • It became more difficult to move the can as more water was being added to it. 
  • Some air bubbles became present. 
  • The motor oil lifted the Coke can with 40 mL of water. 

Trial 3 Control (water)
  • Control fluid (Water) had air bubbles at the start of the trial.
  • Air Bubbles may have affected results.
  •  Water Clear, was a lot less viscous than other fluids.
  • The Hydraulic Arm picked up all levels of weight until 30 mL.
  • Hydraulic arm had difficulties moving the coke can filled with 30 mL of water.
  • Could not move more weight.

Analysis

The fluid inside the hydraulic arm that worked most efficiently at picking up the heaviest load and moving a 12 ounce Coke can to the required distance of 30cm was the Synthetic Brake Fluid. In trial 1, the Synthetic Brake fluid was able to pick up 60 mL. In the second trial, the Synthetic Brake Fluid was able to pick up maximum 55 mL. For the third trial, the Synthetic brake fluid was able to pick up maximum 53, mL.

 

The fluid behind the Synthetic Brake fluid in second place was the Full Synthetic Motor oil. In the first trial, it picked up maximum load of 40 mL, second trial 42 mL, third trial 40 mL. The fluid behind Full Synthetic Motor Oil coming in at third place was the control which was water. In trial one, it carried the maximum load of 35 mL, trial two 30 mL, and trial 3 resulted in 30 mL. The fluid behind the Control in the fourth place was the Power Steering Fluid. In the first trial, it picked up maximum load of 20 mL, second trial 12 mL, third trial 6 mL. 

Some of the results and observation we saw in our experiment can be affirmed by our background research. In our background research we stated, if the hydraulic fluid is too viscous, energy may be lost and the pump may need to work harder. During our experiment, we saw how the syringes of the Power steering fluid and Full synthetic motor oil were very hard to push. This may have been due to the fact that these 2 fluids were very viscous. 

Conclusion

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate which substance will help increase a hydraulic arm’s performance. In order to conduct this experiment, a cardboard hydraulic arm was built. 4 different liquids with different viscosities were tested in order to find out if the viscosity of a hydraulic fluid in the syringe (giving  the arm power) affect the performance of a hydraulic arm?  

 

We filled a coke can with different water weight ranging for 20 ml to 60 ml and tested them one by one by lifting the can from one place to another. We tested each water weight and liquid for 3 trials.

 

At the beginning of the experiment, we hypothesized that, the Synthetic Brake Fluid will perform the best at picking up the heaviest load and transporting it to the required distance of 30cm. We believed that it is not very viscous meaning it will have a faster response time and will flow faster compared to Full Synthetic Motor Oil and  Power Steering Fluid. On the other hand, It will be viscous enough to generate enough power unlike water. Our hypothesis resulted to be correct.

 

 





 

 

 



 

Application

When looking at this experiment, many people of different professions can learn from the results. For example, If an engineer was to view this experiment they may figure out what liquid will be the most efficient for the hydraulic arm. They could then make a hydraulic arm with the most efficient liquid. This would make the job of lifting heavy loads a lot easier and quicker. So in this case, the engineer would know that (synthetic brake fluid) is the most efficient liquid to use in a possible hydraulic they will make on the future. Our project can also help improve systems we use in our everyday life such as car brakes, as well as wheelchairs by making them smoother and better working as they can use the best fluid. 


 

Sources Of Error

During the duration of this experiment we were encountered some errors. During the first time we built our hydraulic arm, it didn't work as efficiently due to the fact that our cardboard was too small . In our first attempt at the arm, we used single wall cardboard. The cardboard was not strong enough to work efficiently. This was because the weight of the load was too great for the single wall cardboard.  This led us to re make the entire arm with double wall cardboard. This cardboard was stronger and carried the load of the coke can. 

Another source of error may have been the air bubbles that formed inside of the syringes. The testing process took 2 days so we had to leave the hydraulic arm sitting overnight. This may have caused air bubbles inside the syringes. This could have altered the performance of the hydraulic arm and ultimately altered the results. Next time we would bleed the system to get rid of any air bubbles

Another Source of Error may have been the cross contamination between the 3 different fluids. The same syringes were used for each of the liquids. When cleaning out the syringes after every trial, small quantities of different fluids may have been cross contaminated together. This may have altered the results. 

A big source of error in our experiment was that we did not measure how much force we applied to the syringes. For example, in the observation we mentioned how “hard” it was to push the syringes but we did not measure the input or output force we applied. To further improve our project we can calculate the force we applied (input force) and how was force was given off (output force). This would clearly give us an accurate answer for how efficient each fluid was. The formula for efficiency is output divided by input, 

Also, we could have ensure that our can did not drop and spill water during the experiment. Ensuring this could have changed our results because sometimes the water was not exactly 20,40,60 ml.

Last but not least, there may have been changes in the temperature of our testing room. Although we tried our best to keep the temperature of our room constant throughout the experiment, there may have been some changes of temperature over the 2 days of testing. 

 

Citations

Bibliography 

 

Hanna, K. T. (2022, May). What is hydraulics? TechTarget. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/hydraulics

 

WORKLIFTS. (n.d.). Where are Hydraulic Systems Found in Everyday Life? Worlifts. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.worlifts.co.uk/expert-guides/where-are-hydraulic-systems-found-in-everyday-life/

 

NASA. (n.d.). Fluid Physics. NASA Science. Retrieved January 16, 2025, from https://science.nasa.gov/biological-physical/focus-areas/fluid-physics/

 

Eric. (2023, September 18). Synthetic Brake Fluid Vs Regular: Uncovering the Key Differences. Retrieved December 17, 2024, from https://autopassionate.com/synthetic-brake-fluid-vs-regular/

Faber, T. E. (2025, January 14). Viscosity | Definition, Facts, Formula, Units, & Examples. Britannica. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/science/viscosity

 

Hydraulics in Everyday Life. (2018, June 16). Completely Hydraulic. Retrieved December 17, 2024, from https://comphydraulic.com/everyday-hydraulic-uses/

 

Hydroline. (n.d.). How do hydraulics work? Hydroline. Retrieved January 13, 2025, from https://hydroline.fi/blogs/how-do-hydraulics-work/

 

Synthetic Oil: Everything You Need To Know. (n.d.). Car and Driver. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://www.caranddriver.com/research/a32879214/synthetic-oil/

 

What Is Power Steering Fluid? - Now from Nationwide. (2023, February 22). Nationwide Blog. Retrieved December 1, 2024, from https://blog.nationwide.com/vehicle/vehicle-maintenance/power-steering-fluid/

 

Acknowledgement

We would like to ackowledge Prince's Parenst and Yuvraj's brother for helping us in this poject. Prince's parents help us to built the arm. They were the ones that used the drill and kept adult supervision at all times. Yuvraj's brother proofread the slides show and helped us create the presentation.