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Bernoulli's principle

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File:VenturiFlow.png
A flow of air through a Venturi meter. The kinetic energy increases at the expense of the fluid pressure, as shown by the difference in height of the two columns of water.
File:Venturi Tube en.webm
Video of a Venturi meter used in a lab experiment

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Bernoulli's principle is a key concept in fluid dynamics that relates pressure, speed and height. For example, for a fluid flowing horizontally Bernoulli's principle states that an increase in the speed occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure<ref name="Clancy1975">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="Batchelor2000">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp The principle is named after the Swiss mathematician and physicist Daniel Bernoulli, who published it in his book Hydrodynamica in 1738.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Although Bernoulli deduced that pressure decreases when the flow speed increases, it was Leonhard Euler in 1752 who derived Bernoulli's equation in its usual form.<ref name="Anderson2016">Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Bernoulli's principle can be derived from the principle of conservation of energy. This states that, in a steady flow, the sum of all forms of energy in a fluid is the same at all points that are free of viscous forces. This requires that the sum of kinetic energy, potential energy and internal energy remains constant.<ref name="Batchelor2000" />Template:Rp Thus an increase in the speed of the fluid—implying an increase in its kinetic energy—occurs with a simultaneous decrease in (the sum of) its potential energy (including the static pressure) and internal energy. If the fluid is flowing out of a reservoir, the sum of all forms of energy is the same because in a reservoir the energy per unit volume (the sum of pressure and gravitational potential Template:Math) is the same everywhere.<ref name="Streeter1966">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

Bernoulli's principle can also be derived directly from Isaac Newton's second law of motion. When a fluid is flowing horizontally from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure, there is more pressure from behind than in front. This gives a net force on the volume, accelerating it along the streamline. Template:EfnTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn

Fluid particles are subject only to pressure and their own weight. If a fluid is flowing horizontally and along a section of a streamline, where the speed increases it can only be because the fluid on that section has moved from a region of higher pressure to a region of lower pressure; and if its speed decreases, it can only be because it has moved from a region of lower pressure to a region of higher pressure. Consequently, within a fluid flowing horizontally, the highest speed occurs where the pressure is lowest, and the lowest speed occurs where the pressure is highest.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Bernoulli's principle is only applicable for isentropic flows: when the effects of irreversible processes (like turbulence) and non-adiabatic processes (e.g. thermal radiation) are small and can be neglected. However, the principle can be applied to various types of flow within these bounds, resulting in various forms of Bernoulli's equation. The simple form of Bernoulli's equation is valid for incompressible flows (e.g. most liquid flows and gases moving at low Mach number). More advanced forms may be applied to compressible flows at higher Mach numbers.

Incompressible flow equationEdit

In most flows of liquids, and of gases at low Mach number, the density of a fluid parcel can be considered to be constant, regardless of pressure variations in the flow. Therefore, the fluid can be considered to be incompressible, and these flows are called incompressible flows. Bernoulli performed his experiments on liquids, so his equation in its original form is valid only for incompressible flow.

A common form of Bernoulli's equation is: Template:NumBlk

where:

  • <math>v</math> is the fluid flow speed at a point,
  • <math>g</math> is the acceleration due to gravity,
  • <math>z</math> is the elevation of the point above a reference plane, with the positive <math>z</math>-direction pointing upward—so in the direction opposite to the gravitational acceleration,
  • <math>p</math> is the static pressure at the chosen point, and
  • <math>\rho</math> is the density of the fluid at all points in the fluid.

Bernoulli's equation and the Bernoulli constant are applicable throughout any region of flow where the energy per unit mass is uniform. Because the energy per unit mass of liquid in a well-mixed reservoir is uniform throughout, Bernoulli's equation can be used to analyze the fluid flow everywhere in that reservoir (including pipes or flow fields that the reservoir feeds) except where viscous forces dominate and erode the energy per unit mass.<ref name="Streeter1966"/>Template:Rp

The following assumptions must be met for this Bernoulli equation to apply:<ref name="Batchelor2000" />Template:Rp

  • the flow must be steady, that is, the flow parameters (velocity, density, etc.) at any point cannot change with time,
  • the flow must be incompressible—even though pressure varies, the density must remain constant along a streamline;
  • friction by viscous forces must be negligible.

For conservative force fields (not limited to the gravitational field), Bernoulli's equation can be generalized as:<ref name="Batchelor2000" />Template:Rp <math display="block">\frac{v^2}{2} + \Psi + \frac{p}{\rho} = \text{constant}</math> where Template:Math is the force potential at the point considered. For example, for the Earth's gravity Template:Math.

By multiplying with the fluid density Template:Mvar, equation (Template:EquationNote) can be rewritten as: <math display="block">\tfrac{1}{2} \rho v^2 + \rho g z + p = \text{constant}</math> or: <math display="block">q + \rho g h = p_0 + \rho g z = \text{constant}</math> where

The constant in the Bernoulli equation can be normalized. A common approach is in terms of total head or energy head Template:Mvar: <math display="block">H = z + \frac{p}{\rho g} + \frac{v^2}{2g} = h + \frac{v^2}{2g},</math>

The above equations suggest there is a flow speed at which pressure is zero, and at even higher speeds the pressure is negative. Most often, gases and liquids are not capable of negative absolute pressure, or even zero pressure, so clearly Bernoulli's equation ceases to be valid before zero pressure is reached. In liquids—when the pressure becomes too low—cavitation occurs. The above equations use a linear relationship between flow speed squared and pressure. At higher flow speeds in gases, or for sound waves in liquid, the changes in mass density become significant so that the assumption of constant density is invalid.

Simplified formEdit

In many applications of Bernoulli's equation, the change in the Template:Mvar term is so small compared with the other terms that it can be ignored. For example, in the case of aircraft in flight, the change in height Template:Mvar is so small the Template:Mvar term can be omitted. This allows the above equation to be presented in the following simplified form: <math display="block">p + q = p_0</math> where Template:Math is called total pressure, and Template:Mvar is dynamic pressure.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Many authors refer to the pressure Template:Mvar as static pressure to distinguish it from total pressure Template:Math and dynamic pressure Template:Mvar. In Aerodynamics, L.J. Clancy writes: "To distinguish it from the total and dynamic pressures, the actual pressure of the fluid, which is associated not with its motion but with its state, is often referred to as the static pressure, but where the term pressure alone is used it refers to this static pressure."<ref name="Clancy1975" />Template:Rp

The simplified form of Bernoulli's equation can be summarized in the following memorable word equation:<ref name="Clancy1975" />Template:Rp Template:Block indent

Every point in a steadily flowing fluid, regardless of the fluid speed at that point, has its own unique static pressure Template:Mvar and dynamic pressure Template:Mvar. Their sum Template:Math is defined to be the total pressure Template:Math. The significance of Bernoulli's principle can now be summarized as "total pressure is constant in any region free of viscous forces". If the fluid flow is brought to rest at some point, this point is called a stagnation point, and at this point the static pressure is equal to the stagnation pressure.

If the fluid flow is irrotational, the total pressure is uniform and Bernoulli's principle can be summarized as "total pressure is constant everywhere in the fluid flow".<ref name="Clancy1975" />Template:Rp It is reasonable to assume that irrotational flow exists in any situation where a large body of fluid is flowing past a solid body. Examples are aircraft in flight and ships moving in open bodies of water. However, Bernoulli's principle importantly does not apply in the boundary layer such as in flow through long pipes.

Unsteady potential flowEdit

The Bernoulli equation for unsteady potential flow is used in the theory of ocean surface waves and acoustics. For an irrotational flow, the flow velocity can be described as the gradient Template:Math of a velocity potential Template:Mvar. In that case, and for a constant density Template:Mvar, the momentum equations of the Euler equations can be integrated to:<ref name="Batchelor2000" />Template:Rp<math display="block">\frac{\partial \varphi}{\partial t} + \tfrac12 v^2 + \frac{p}{\rho} + gz = f(t),</math>

which is a Bernoulli equation valid also for unsteady—or time dependent—flows. Here Template:Math denotes the partial derivative of the velocity potential Template:Mvar with respect to time Template:Mvar, and Template:Math is the flow speed. The function Template:Math depends only on time and not on position in the fluid. As a result, the Bernoulli equation at some moment Template:Mvar applies in the whole fluid domain. This is also true for the special case of a steady irrotational flow, in which case Template:Mvar and Template:Math are constants so equation (Template:EquationNote) can be applied in every point of the fluid domain.<ref name="Batchelor2000" />Template:Rp Further Template:Math can be made equal to zero by incorporating it into the velocity potential using the transformation:<math display="block">\Phi = \varphi - \int_{t_0}^t f(\tau)\, \mathrm{d}\tau,</math> resulting in: <math display="block">\frac{\partial \Phi}{\partial t} + \tfrac12 v^2 + \frac{p}{\rho} + gz = 0.</math>

Note that the relation of the potential to the flow velocity is unaffected by this transformation: Template:Math.

The Bernoulli equation for unsteady potential flow also appears to play a central role in Luke's variational principle, a variational description of free-surface flows using the Lagrangian mechanics.

Compressible flow equationEdit

Bernoulli developed his principle from observations on liquids, and Bernoulli's equation is valid for ideal fluids: those that are inviscid, incompressible and subjected only to conservative forces. It is sometimes valid for the flow of gases as well, provided that there is no transfer of kinetic or potential energy from the gas flow to the compression or expansion of the gas. If both the gas pressure and volume change simultaneously, then work will be done on or by the gas. In this case, Bernoulli's equation in its incompressible flow form cannot be assumed to be valid. However, if the gas process is entirely isobaric, or isochoric, then no work is done on or by the gas (so the simple energy balance is not upset). According to the gas law, an isobaric or isochoric process is ordinarily the only way to ensure constant density in a gas. Also the gas density will be proportional to the ratio of pressure and absolute temperature; however, this ratio will vary upon compression or expansion, no matter what non-zero quantity of heat is added or removed. The only exception is if the net heat transfer is zero, as in a complete thermodynamic cycle or in an individual isentropic (frictionless adiabatic) process, and even then this reversible process must be reversed, to restore the gas to the original pressure and specific volume, and thus density. Only then is the original, unmodified Bernoulli equation applicable. In this case the equation can be used if the flow speed of the gas is sufficiently below the speed of sound, such that the variation in density of the gas (due to this effect) along each streamline can be ignored. Adiabatic flow at less than Mach 0.3 is generally considered to be slow enough.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

It is possible to use the fundamental principles of physics to develop similar equations applicable to compressible fluids. There are numerous equations, each tailored for a particular application, but all are analogous to Bernoulli's equation and all rely on nothing more than the fundamental principles of physics such as Newton's laws of motion or the first law of thermodynamics.

Compressible flow in fluid dynamicsEdit

For a compressible fluid, with a barotropic equation of state, and under the action of conservative forces,<ref name="ClarkeCarswell2007">Template:Cite book</ref> <math display="block">\frac {v^2}{2}+ \int_{p_1}^p \frac {\mathrm{d}\tilde{p}}{\rho\left(\tilde{p}\right)} + \Psi = \text{constant (along a streamline)}</math> where:

In engineering situations, elevations are generally small compared to the size of the Earth, and the time scales of fluid flow are small enough to consider the equation of state as adiabatic. In this case, the above equation for an ideal gas becomes:<ref name="Clancy1975" />Template:Rp <math display="block">\frac {v^2}{2}+ gz + \left(\frac {\gamma}{\gamma-1}\right) \frac {p}{\rho} = \text{constant (along a streamline)}</math> where, in addition to the terms listed above:

In many applications of compressible flow, changes in elevation are negligible compared to the other terms, so the term Template:Mvar can be omitted. A very useful form of the equation is then: <math display="block">\frac {v^2}{2}+\left( \frac {\gamma}{\gamma-1}\right)\frac {p}{\rho} = \left(\frac {\gamma}{\gamma-1}\right)\frac {p_0}{\rho_0}</math>

where:

Compressible flow in thermodynamicsEdit

The most general form of the equation, suitable for use in thermodynamics in case of (quasi) steady flow, is:<ref name="Batchelor2000" />Template:Rp<ref name="LandauLifshitz1987">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="VanWylenSonntag1965">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

<math display="block">\frac{v^2}{2} + \Psi + w = \text{constant}.</math>

Here Template:Mvar is the enthalpy per unit mass (also known as specific enthalpy), which is also often written as Template:Mvar (not to be confused with "head" or "height").

Note that <math display="block">w =e + \frac{p}{\rho} ~~~\left(= \frac{\gamma}{\gamma-1} \frac{p}{\rho}\right)</math> where Template:Mvar is the thermodynamic energy per unit mass, also known as the specific internal energy. So, for constant internal energy <math>e</math> the equation reduces to the incompressible-flow form.

The constant on the right-hand side is often called the Bernoulli constant and denoted Template:Mvar. For steady inviscid adiabatic flow with no additional sources or sinks of energy, Template:Mvar is constant along any given streamline. More generally, when Template:Mvar may vary along streamlines, it still proves a useful parameter, related to the "head" of the fluid (see below).

When the change in Template:Math can be ignored, a very useful form of this equation is: <math display="block">\frac{v^2}{2} + w = w_0</math> where Template:Math is total enthalpy. For a calorically perfect gas such as an ideal gas, the enthalpy is directly proportional to the temperature, and this leads to the concept of the total (or stagnation) temperature.

When shock waves are present, in a reference frame in which the shock is stationary and the flow is steady, many of the parameters in the Bernoulli equation suffer abrupt changes in passing through the shock. The Bernoulli parameter remains unaffected. An exception to this rule is radiative shocks, which violate the assumptions leading to the Bernoulli equation, namely the lack of additional sinks or sources of energy.

Unsteady potential flowEdit

For a compressible fluid, with a barotropic equation of state, the unsteady momentum conservation equation <math display="block">\frac{\partial \vec{v}}{\partial t} + \left(\vec{v}\cdot \nabla\right)\vec{v} = -\vec{g} - \frac{\nabla p}{\rho}</math>

With the irrotational assumption, namely, the flow velocity can be described as the gradient Template:Math of a velocity potential Template:Math. The unsteady momentum conservation equation becomes <math display="block">\frac{\partial \nabla \phi}{\partial t} + \nabla \left(\frac{\nabla \phi \cdot \nabla \phi}{2}\right) = -\nabla \Psi - \nabla \int_{p_1}^{p}\frac{d \tilde{p}}{\rho(\tilde{p})}</math> which leads to <math display="block">\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t} + \frac{\nabla \phi \cdot \nabla \phi}{2} + \Psi + \int_{p_1}^{p}\frac{d \tilde{p}}{\rho(\tilde{p})} = \text{constant}</math>

In this case, the above equation for isentropic flow becomes: <math display="block">\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t} + \frac{\nabla \phi \cdot \nabla \phi}{2} + \Psi + \frac{\gamma}{\gamma-1}\frac{p}{\rho} = \text{constant}</math>

DerivationsEdit

Template:Math proof{\mathrm{d}x} \left( \rho \frac{v^2}{2} + p \right) =0</math> by integrating with respect to Template:Mvar <math display="block"> \frac{v^2}{2} + \frac{p}{\rho}= C</math> where Template:Mvar is a constant, sometimes referred to as the Bernoulli constant. It is not a universal constant, but rather a constant of a particular fluid system. The deduction is: where the speed is large, pressure is low and vice versa.

In the above derivation, no external work–energy principle is invoked. Rather, Bernoulli's principle was derived by a simple manipulation of Newton's second law.

File:BernoullisLawDerivationDiagram.svg
A streamtube of fluid moving to the right. Indicated are pressure, elevation, flow speed, distance (Template:Mvar), and cross-sectional area. Note that in this figure elevation is denoted as Template:Mvar, contrary to the text where it is given by Template:Mvar.
Derivation by using conservation of energy

Another way to derive Bernoulli's principle for an incompressible flow is by applying conservation of energy.<ref name="FeynmanLeightonSands1963V2">Template:Cite bookTemplate:Rp</ref> In the form of the work-energy theorem, stating that<ref>Template:Cite book, p. 138.</ref> Template:Block indent Therefore, Template:Block indent The system consists of the volume of fluid, initially between the cross-sections Template:Math and Template:Math. In the time interval Template:Math fluid elements initially at the inflow cross-section Template:Math move over a distance Template:Math, while at the outflow cross-section the fluid moves away from cross-section Template:Math over a distance Template:Math. The displaced fluid volumes at the inflow and outflow are respectively Template:Math and Template:Math. The associated displaced fluid masses are – when Template:Mvar is the fluid's mass density – equal to density times volume, so Template:Math and Template:Math. By mass conservation, these two masses displaced in the time interval Template:Math have to be equal, and this displaced mass is denoted by Template:Math: <math display="block">\begin{align} \rho A_1 s_1 &= \rho A_1 v_1 \Delta t = \Delta m, \\ \rho A_2 s_2 &= \rho A_2 v_2 \Delta t = \Delta m. \end{align}</math>

The work done by the forces consists of two parts:

  • The work done by the pressure acting on the areas Template:Math and Template:Math <math display="block">W_\text{pressure}=F_{1,\text{pressure}} s_{1} - F_{2,\text{pressure}} s_2 =p_1 A_1 s_1 - p_2 A_2 s_2 = \Delta m \frac{p_1}{\rho} - \Delta m \frac{p_2}{\rho}.</math>
  • The work done by gravity: the gravitational potential energy in the volume Template:Math is lost, and at the outflow in the volume Template:Math is gained. So, the change in gravitational potential energy Template:Math in the time interval Template:Math is

<math display="block">\Delta E_\text{pot,gravity} = \Delta m\, g z_2 - \Delta m\, g z_1. </math> Now, the work by the force of gravity is opposite to the change in potential energy, Template:Math: while the force of gravity is in the negative Template:Mvar-direction, the work—gravity force times change in elevation—will be negative for a positive elevation change Template:Math, while the corresponding potential energy change is positive.<ref name="FeynmanLeightonSands1963V1">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp So: <math display="block">W_\text{gravity} = -\Delta E_\text{pot,gravity} = \Delta m\, g z_1 - \Delta m\, g z_2.</math> And therefore the total work done in this time interval Template:Math is <math display="block">W = W_\text{pressure} + W_\text{gravity}.</math> The increase in kinetic energy is <math display="block">\Delta E_\text{kin} = \tfrac12 \Delta m\, v_2^2-\tfrac12 \Delta m\, v_1^2.</math> Putting these together, the work-kinetic energy theorem Template:Math gives:<ref name="FeynmanLeightonSands1963V2" /> <math display="block">\Delta m \frac{p_1}{\rho} - \Delta m \frac{p_2}{\rho} + \Delta m\, g z_1 - \Delta m\, g z_2 = \tfrac12 \Delta m\, v_2^2 - \tfrac12 \Delta m\, v_1^2</math> or <math display="block">\tfrac12 \Delta m\, v_1^2 + \Delta m\, g z_1 + \Delta m \frac{p_1}{\rho} = \tfrac12 \Delta m\, v_2^2 + \Delta m\, g z_2 + \Delta m \frac{p_2}{\rho}.</math> After dividing by the mass Template:Math the result is:<ref name="FeynmanLeightonSands1963V2" /> <math display="block">\tfrac12 v_1^2 +g z_1 + \frac{p_1}{\rho}=\tfrac12 v_2^2 +g z_2 + \frac{p_2}{\rho}</math> or, as stated in the first paragraph: Template:NumBlk Further division by Template:Mvar produces the following equation. Note that each term can be described in the length dimension (such as meters). This is the head equation derived from Bernoulli's principle: Template:NumBlk The middle term, Template:Mvar, represents the potential energy of the fluid due to its elevation with respect to a reference plane. Now, Template:Math is called the elevation head and given the designation Template:Math.

A free falling mass from an elevation Template:Math (in a vacuum) will reach a speed <math display="block">v = \sqrt{ {2 g}{z} },</math> when arriving at elevation Template:Math. Or when rearranged as head: <math display="block">h_v =\frac{v^2}{2 g}</math> The term Template:Math is called the velocity head, expressed as a length measurement. It represents the internal energy of the fluid due to its motion.

The hydrostatic pressure p is defined as <math display="block">p = p_0 - \rho g z ,</math> with Template:Math some reference pressure, or when rearranged as head: <math display="block">\psi = \frac{p}{\rho g}.</math> The term Template:Math is also called the pressure head, expressed as a length measurement. It represents the internal energy of the fluid due to the pressure exerted on the container. The head due to the flow speed and the head due to static pressure combined with the elevation above a reference plane, a simple relationship useful for incompressible fluids using the velocity head, elevation head, and pressure head is obtained. Template:NumBlk If Eqn. 1 is multiplied by the density of the fluid, an equation with three pressure terms is obtained: Template:NumBlk Note that the pressure of the system is constant in this form of the Bernoulli equation. If the static pressure of the system (the third term) increases, and if the pressure due to elevation (the middle term) is constant, then the dynamic pressure (the first term) must have decreased. In other words, if the speed of a fluid decreases and it is not due to an elevation difference, it must be due to an increase in the static pressure that is resisting the flow.

All three equations are merely simplified versions of an energy balance on a system. }}

Template:Math proof

ApplicationsEdit

File:Cloud over A340 wing.JPG
Condensation visible over the upper surface of an Airbus A340 wing caused by the increase in relative humidity accompanying the fall in pressure and temperature

In modern everyday life there are many observations that can be successfully explained by application of Bernoulli's principle, even though no real fluid is entirely inviscid,<ref name="Thomas2010">Template:Cite journal</ref> and a small viscosity often has a large effect on the flow.

  • Bernoulli's principle can be used to calculate the lift force on an airfoil, if the behaviour of the fluid flow in the vicinity of the foil is known. For example, if the air flowing past the top surface of an aircraft wing is moving faster than the air flowing past the bottom surface, then Bernoulli's principle implies that the pressure on the surfaces of the wing will be lower above than below. This pressure difference results in an upwards lifting force.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Whenever the distribution of speed past the top and bottom surfaces of a wing is known, the lift forces can be calculated (to a good approximation) using Bernoulli's equations,<ref name="Eastlake">Template:Cite journal "The resultant force is determined by integrating the surface-pressure

distribution over the surface area of the airfoil."</ref> which were established by Bernoulli over a century before the first man-made wings were used for the purpose of flight.

  • The basis of a carburetor used in many reciprocating engines is a throat in the air flow to create a region of low pressure to draw fuel into the carburetor and mix it thoroughly with the incoming air. The low pressure in the throat can be explained by Bernoulli's principle, where air in the throat is moving at its fastest speed and therefore it is at its lowest pressure. The carburetor may or may not use the difference between the two static pressures which result from the Venturi effect on the air flow in order to force the fuel to flow, and as a basis a carburetor may use the difference in pressure between the throat and local air pressure in the float bowl, or between the throat and a Pitot tube at the air entry.
  • An injector on a steam locomotive or a static boiler.
  • The pitot tube and static port on an aircraft are used to determine the airspeed of the aircraft. These two devices are connected to the airspeed indicator, which determines the dynamic pressure of the airflow past the aircraft. Bernoulli's principle is used to calibrate the airspeed indicator so that it displays the indicated airspeed appropriate to the dynamic pressure.<ref name="Clancy1975" />Template:Rp
  • A De Laval nozzle utilizes Bernoulli's principle to create a force by turning pressure energy generated by the combustion of propellants into velocity. This then generates thrust by way of Newton's third law of motion.
  • The flow speed of a fluid can be measured using a device such as a Venturi meter or an orifice plate, which can be placed into a pipeline to reduce the diameter of the flow. For a horizontal device, the continuity equation shows that for an incompressible fluid, the reduction in diameter will cause an increase in the fluid flow speed. Subsequently, Bernoulli's principle then shows that there must be a decrease in the pressure in the reduced diameter region. This phenomenon is known as the Venturi effect.
  • The maximum possible drain rate for a tank with a hole or tap at the base can be calculated directly from Bernoulli's equation and is found to be proportional to the square root of the height of the fluid in the tank. This is Torricelli's law, which is compatible with Bernoulli's principle. Increased viscosity lowers this drain rate; this is reflected in the discharge coefficient, which is a function of the Reynolds number and the shape of the orifice.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • The Bernoulli grip relies on this principle to create a non-contact adhesive force between a surface and the gripper.
  • During a cricket match, bowlers continually polish one side of the ball. After some time, one side is quite rough and the other is still smooth. Hence, when the ball is bowled and passes through air, the speed on one side of the ball is faster than on the other, and this results in a pressure difference between the sides; this leads to the ball rotating ("swinging") while travelling through the air, giving advantage to the bowlers.

MisconceptionsEdit

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Airfoil liftEdit

File:Equal transit-time NASA wrong1 en.svg
An illustration of the incorrect equal transit-time explanation of airfoil lift

One of the most common erroneous explanations of aerodynamic lift asserts that the air must traverse the upper and lower surfaces of a wing in the same amount of time, implying that since the upper surface presents a longer path the air must be moving over the top of the wing faster than over the bottom. Bernoulli's principle is then cited to conclude that the pressure on top of the wing must be lower than on the bottom.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal Template:Dead link</ref>

Equal transit time applies to the flow around a body generating no lift, but there is no physical principle that requires equal transit time in cases of bodies generating lift. In fact, theory predicts – and experiments confirm – that the air traverses the top surface of a body experiencing lift in a shorter time than it traverses the bottom surface; the explanation based on equal transit time is false.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>"The actual velocity over the top of an airfoil is much faster than that predicted by the "Longer Path" theory and particles moving over the top arrive at the trailing edge before particles moving under the airfoil."
{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> While the equal-time explanation is false, it is not the Bernoulli principle that is false, because this principle is well established; Bernoulli's equation is used correctly in common mathematical treatments of aerodynamic lift.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Common classroom demonstrationsEdit

There are several common classroom demonstrations that are sometimes incorrectly explained using Bernoulli's principle.<ref>"Bernoulli's law and experiments attributed to it are fascinating. Unfortunately some of these experiments are explained erroneously..." {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> One involves holding a piece of paper horizontally so that it droops downward and then blowing over the top of it. As the demonstrator blows over the paper, the paper rises. It is then asserted that this is because "faster moving air has lower pressure".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Minnesota>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

One problem with this explanation can be seen by blowing along the bottom of the paper: if the deflection was caused by faster moving air, then the paper should deflect downward; but the paper deflects upward regardless of whether the faster moving air is on the top or the bottom.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Another problem is that when the air leaves the demonstrator's mouth it has the same pressure as the surrounding air;<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> the air does not have lower pressure just because it is moving; in the demonstration, the static pressure of the air leaving the demonstrator's mouth is equal to the pressure of the surrounding air.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A third problem is that it is false to make a connection between the flow on the two sides of the paper using Bernoulli's equation since the air above and below are different flow fields and Bernoulli's principle only applies within a flow field.<ref name=Babinsky2>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

As the wording of the principle can change its implications, stating the principle correctly is important.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> What Bernoulli's principle actually says is that within a flow of constant energy, when fluid flows through a region of lower pressure it speeds up and vice versa.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Thus, Bernoulli's principle concerns itself with changes in speed and changes in pressure within a flow field. It cannot be used to compare different flow fields.

A correct explanation of why the paper rises would observe that the plume follows the curve of the paper and that a curved streamline will develop a pressure gradient perpendicular to the direction of flow, with the lower pressure on the inside of the curve.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bernoulli's principle predicts that the decrease in pressure is associated with an increase in speed; in other words, as the air passes over the paper, it speeds up and moves faster than it was moving when it left the demonstrator's mouth. But this is not apparent from the demonstration.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other common classroom demonstrations, such as blowing between two suspended spheres, inflating a large bag, or suspending a ball in an airstream are sometimes explained in a similarly misleading manner by saying "faster moving air has lower pressure".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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