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,
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
G
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
GRAVITY
THRUST
DRAG
The engines provide THRUST.
The wings provide LIFT.
Gravity provides the G force.
And, fluid friction provides the
DRAG.
What is happening
if the airplane is
flying at constant
altitude?
What forces are =?