Bernoullis Principle

Created by: Keith P. Murphy Winston Churchill High School Potomac, MD

Bernoullis Principle:
A Swiss scientist born in 1700s that is most famous for his work in fluid pressure.

Remember!!!
Air is a gas and a fluid Air pressure is due to the motion of its particles ex. The quicker a stream of particles travel, the ???????

Bernoullis Principle
Pressure in a moving stream exerts less pressure than the air surrounding the moving stream Quick stream = low air pressure
Slow stream = High air pressure

Standing Tennis Ball

In your notes, hypothesize why the tennis ball stands in the air. Draw the air currents.

Penn

AIR FLOW

The Answer
The tennis ball is surrounded by an air stream of equal speed, G thus equal pressure. The down force is G. Thus, the ball stands on air. The air pressure below is equal with the G force. AIR FLOW

Bernoulli & Flight

Bernoullis Principle is what allows birds and planes to fly. The secret behind flight is under the wings.

The air on top of the wing must travel a longer distance than the air below the wing. But, air on both sides must reach the end of the wing at the same time. Therefore, the air on top of the wing traveling faster = less air pressure.

Creates Lift

AIR

Below is a NASA illustration of what surface pressure is exerted on what surface areas of the wing. Is this plane ascending or descending?

This diagram shows regions of air pressure around specific areas of the wing. Again, notice that the low pressure region is above the wing, allowing for upward thrust.

LIFT

DRAG
GRAVITY

THRUST

What is happening if the airplane is flying at constant altitude?

The engines provide THRUST. The wings provide LIFT. Gravity provides the G force. And, fluid friction provides the DRAG.

What forces are =?