Fluid Dynamics & Bernoulli Lab
Investigate how pressure, velocity, and height relate in flowing fluids. Apply Bernoulli's equation, the continuity equation, and Torricelli's theorem to real-world scenarios including airplane lift, Venturi meters, and tank drainage.
Guided Experiment: Exploring Continuity
What happens to the velocity of a fluid when the pipe cross-sectional area is reduced by half? How does the flow rate change?
Write your hypothesis in the Lab Report panel, then click Next.
Pipe Flow Diagram
Controls
Solution Steps
Data Table
(0 rows)| # | Configuration | Pressure (Pa) | Velocity (m/s) | Height (m) | Area (m²) | Flow Rate (m³/s) | Reynolds No. |
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Reference Guide
Bernoulli's Equation
For an ideal, incompressible fluid flowing along a streamline, the total mechanical energy per unit volume is conserved.
When pressure energy increases, kinetic energy must decrease (and vice versa). This explains why faster-moving fluids exert less pressure on their surroundings.
Continuity Equation
Mass conservation requires that the flow rate Q stays constant throughout a pipe. When the cross-section narrows, velocity must increase.
This is why covering part of a garden hose nozzle makes the water spray farther.
Torricelli's Theorem
The speed of fluid draining from a hole at the bottom of a tank depends only on the height of fluid above the hole, not on the tank size.
This is a special case of Bernoulli's equation where both surfaces are at atmospheric pressure and the tank surface velocity is approximately zero.
Reynolds Number
The Reynolds number predicts whether flow will be smooth (laminar) or chaotic (turbulent). It compares inertial forces to viscous forces.
Re < 2300 is laminar, 2300-4000 is transitional, and Re > 4000 is turbulent. Most everyday pipe flows are turbulent.