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.

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

Click here for an Example.


Venturi tube or venturi flow meter:

Click here for another Example.

Equation of Continuity

Applications of Bernoulli's Equation
Return to ToC, Fluids
(c) 2005, Doug Davis; all rights reserved