Bernoulli's Equation
From the Equation of Contunity,
A 1 v1 = A 2 v2 we know that the fluid must be moving slower at position 1 where the cross section A1 is larger and it must be moving faster at position 2 where cross section A2 is smaller. That is, the fluid must accelerate as is moves from position 1 to position 2. That means the pressure on the fluid at position 1 must be greater than the pressure at position 2 in order to provide a net force to cause this acceleration. This is an example of Bernoulli's Principle that
the pressure exerted by a moving fluid is greater where the speed of the fluid is smaller and the pressure is smaller where the speed of the fluid is greater.Now consider fluid that flows -- along a stream tube -- with a change in cross sectional area and a change in height. Work must be done on the fluid to change its kinetic energy and its potential energy.
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At position 1, the force on the shaded portion of the fluid is
F1 = P1 A1 Likewise, at position 2,
F2 = P2 A2 The work done at the two positions is
W1 = F1 l1 = P1 A1 l1 and
W2 = - F2 l2 = - P2 A2 l2 Gravity also does work,
Wgrav = m g y1 - m g y2 = - m g (y2 - y1) where
m = 1 A1 l1 =
2 A2 l2
so that
Wnet = W1 + W2 + Wgrav We know that the net work on anything equals the change in kinetic energy,
Wnet = KE = (1/2) m v22 - (1/2) m v12
W1 + W2 + Wgrav = (1/2) m v22 - (1/2) m v12
P1 A1 l1 - P2 A2 l2 - m g (y2 - y1) = (1/2) m v22 - (1/2) m v12
(1/2) m v12 + P1 A1 l1 + m g y1 = (1/2) m v22 + P2 A2 l2 + m g y2
(1/2)
1 A1 l1 v12 + P1 A1 l1 +
1 A1 l1 g y1 =
= (1/2)
2 A2 l2 v22 + P2 A2 l2 +
2 A2 l2 g y2
Recall that
A1 l1 = A2 l2 = V (1/2)
1 V v12 + P1 V +
1 V g y1 = (1/2)
2 V v22 + P2 V+
2 V g y2
(1/2)
1 v12 + P1 +
1 g y1 = (1/2)
2 v22 + P2 +
2 g y2
This means
(1/2) v2 + P +
g y = constant
or
(1/2) 1 v12 + P1 +
1 g y1 = (1/2)
2 v22 + P2 +
2 g y2
If the vertical height y does not change, this means
(1/2) v2 + P = constant
or
(1/2) 1 v12 + P1 = (1/2)
2 v22 + P2
Venturi tube or venturi flow meter:![]()
Click here for another Example.
(c) 2005, Doug Davis; all rights reserved
Equation of Continuity Applications of Bernoulli's Equation Return to ToC, Fluids