MM 222 Fluid Mechanics

The University of the South Pacific

School of Engineering and Physics
MM 222 – Fluid Mechanics

Lab 4: Demonstration of Bernoulli’s Theorem

Lab Session Time: Monday 5-8 pm

Student Name:
Student ID#:

AIM

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the validity of the Bernoulli’s Theorem when applied to
the steady flow of water in a convergent divergent duct ,to interpret the Bernoulli’s equation with the help of
Energy Grade Line (EGL) and Hydraulic Grade Line (HGL) and to find the time taken to collect 2L of water
the volumetric flow rates of the water, the pressure difference at all manometer tube, velocity, dynamic head
and also the total head.

INTRODUCTION

Bernoulli’s theorem implies, therefore, that if the fluid flows horizontally so that no change in gravitational
potential energy occurs, then a decrease in fluid pressure is associated with an increase in fluid velocity. If
the fluid is flowing through a horizontal pipe of varying cross-sectional area, for example, the fluid speeds
up in constricted areas so that the pressure the fluid exerts is least where the cross section is smallest. This
phenomenon is sometimes called the Venturi effect, after the Italian scientist G.B. Venturi (1746–1822),
who first noted the effects of constricted channels on fluid flow.[1]

Bernoulli’s equation

P V2
+ + z=H
ρg 2 g

P
=pressure head
ρg

V2
=velocity head
2g

z=elevation head

H=total head

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Bernoulli’s equation between two points yields.

P 1 V 12 P2 V 22
+ + z 1= + + z2
ρg 2 g ρg 2 g

Energy grade line (EGL)

A line that represents the elevation of energy head (in feet or meters) of water flowing in a pipe, conduit, or channel. The
line is drawn above the hydraulic grade line (gradient) a distance equal to the velocity head (V 2/2g) of the water flowing at
each section or point along the pipe or channel. [2]

P V2
EGL= +
ρg 2 g

Hydraulic grade line (HGL)

The Hydraulic Grade Line is a graph of the pressure and gravitational heads plotted along the position of the
pipeline or channel.

P
HGL=
ρg

Velocity measurement

The velocity of the flow is measured by measuring the volume of the flow, V, over a time period, t.
Thus, gives the rate of volume flow: Q = V/t m3/s, which in turn gives the velocity of the flow through a
defined are: -

Q
V=
A

Bernoulli’s principle tells us that windows tend to explode rather than implode when hurricanes. During the
hurricanes, a very high speed of air outside the window leading to low air pressure compares to inside,
which the air is still. The differences of forces causing the windows push outward and explode. That it is
why to better open all windows during the hurricane.[3]

Another example of Bernoulli’s principle application is to determine the flow speed of a fluid. The devices
such as venturi meter or an orifice plate is used and can be placed into a pipeline to reduce the diameter of
the flow. The reduction in diameter will cause an increase in the fluid flow speed, thus according to
Bernoulli’s there must be decrease in pressure.[1]

However, Bernoulli’s Principle can only be applied under certain conditions. The conditions to which
Bernoulli’s equation applies are the fluid must be frictionless (in viscid) and of constant density; the flow
must be steady, continuous, incompressible, non-viscous fluid flow, the total energy or total head remains
constant at all the section along the fluid flow provided there is no loss or addition of energy. Thus, this
experiment is conducted to investigate the validity of the Bernoulli’s equation when applied to the steady
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flow of water in a tapered duct and to demonstrate the flow rates with venture meter and to demonstrate
Bernoulli’s.

EQUIPMENT

1) Pad of manometer tubes

2) Venturi tube
3) Air bleed screw
4) Water inlet
5) Pump and pump switch
6) Stopwatch
7) Water hosts and tubes
8) Water tank equipped with valves, control valve and measuring tube
9) Hypodermic tube
10) Hydraulic bench
11) Union
12) Discharge water
13) Sump tank
14) Volumetric tank

https://www.labequip.co.za/docs/Bernoullis%20Theorem
%20Demonstration%20%20FM24.pdf

METHODOLOGY

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Ta Pressure Flow Rate Area Velocity P V2 P V2

HGL= EGL= +
p (mH20) (m¿¿ 3/ s)¿ (m¿¿ 2)¿ (m/s ) ρg 2g ρg 2 g
(m) (m) (m)
A H1= 0.107 7.51×10 −5
4.91×10 −4
0.15 1.09×10−5 0.00115 1.16×10−3
B H2= 0.081 7.51×10−5 1.52×10−4 0.49 8.27×10−6 0.12234 0.1223
C H3= 0.068 7.51×10−5 1.09×10−4 0.69 6.94×10−6 0.02467 0.2467
D H4= 0.054 7.51×10−5 8.99×10−5 0.83 5.52×10−6 0.03511 0.0351
E H5= 0.041 7.51×10−5 7.85×10−5 0.96 4.19×10−6 0.04697 0.0469
F H6= 0.054 7.51×10−5 4.91×10−4 0.15 5.52×10−6 0.00115 1.16×10−3

Sample Calculations
The following dimensions and values were used in the calculation for tap A.
diameter = 25.0 mm
volume = 2L = 0.002mm3
time = 26.63 s
ρwater = 998 kg/m3

Area
A ¿ π r2
=π ¿
= 4.91×10−4 m2

volume Q
Q= velocity =
time area
0.002 7.51 ×10−5
= =
26.63 4.91 ×10−4
7.51 ×10−5 m 3 /s = 0.15m/s

P
HGL¿
ρg
2
0.107 V 2 (0.15)
¿ = = 0.00115m
(998)(9.81) 2 g 2(9.81)

= 1.09 ×10−5 m

P V2
EGL = +
ρg 2 g

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0.107 (0.15)2
= +
(998)(9.81) 2(9.81)
= 1.09 ×10−5+0.00115
= 1.16×10−3 m

0.3

0.25

0.2
EGL (m)

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Tap

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0
HGL (m)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Tap

DISCUSSION

From this experiment, the objective of this experiment is to investigate the validity of the Bernoulli equation when
applied to the steady flow of water in a tapped duct and to measure the flow rates. This experiment is based on the
Bernoulli’s principle which relates between velocities with the pressure for an inviscid flow. The pressure different is
determined from T A to T f meanwhile the flow rate is determined by recording the time taken to collect 2L of water in
the tank.

To achieve the objectives of this experiment, Bernoulli’s theorem demonstration apparatus along with the hydraulic
bench were used. This instrument was combined with a venturi meter and the pad of manometer tubes which indicate
the pressure of T A until T f . The flow rates through the venturi meter can be related to pressure measurements by using
Bernoulli’s equation.

From the result, it is been observed that when the pressure difference increase, the flow rates of the water increase
and thus the velocities also increase for both convergent and divergent flow. As fluid flows from a wider pipe to a
narrower one, the velocity of the flowing fluid increases. This is shown in all the results tables, where the velocity of
water that flows in the tapered duct increases as the duct area decreases, regardless of the pressure difference of each
result taken. As we calculated the velocity for each section which is section A, B, C, D, E and F.

Although the experiment was successfully done, there also were some errors that happen and might happen when we
conduct the experiment. Some of the error might occur because of parallex error. One of the errors we might not read
the level of manometer properly because of the height of the manometer is at the top. Thus, there are a potential that
we didn’t read the level of manometer parallel to the scale. The inconsistent of the water level in manometer also
might affect our data to be inaccurate and slightly difference. To overcome some of the error that are listed, we waited
for 5 min to let the water level in the manometer to become steady and take the reading.

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CONCLUSION

As the conclusion, we successfully obtained the objective of this experiment that is to investigate the validity of the
Bernoulli’s equation when applied to the steady flow of water in a tapered duct, to demonstrate the flow rates with
venture meter and to demonstrate Bernoulli’s, to find the time taken to collect 2L of water the volumetric flow rates of
the water, the pressure difference at all manometer tube, velocity, dynamic head and also the total head and to
determine a steady, continuous, incompressible, non-viscous fluid flow, the total energy or total head remains constant
at all the section along the fluid flow provided there is no loss or addition of energy. We also can conclude that the
velocity of fluid will increase if the fluid is flowing from a wider to narrower tube and the velocity will decrease in the
opposite case regardless of the type of flow and the pressure difference. As the velocity for all cases increases the
dynamic head values are also seem to be increased. The velocity is dependent on the diameter of the tube also the
pressure depends on the velocity of the flow.

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REFERENCE

[1]-Encyclopedia Britannica. 2017. Bernoulli’S Theorem | Definition, Derivation, & Facts. [online] Available at:
<https://www.britannica.com/science/Bernoullis-theorem> [Accessed 16 September 2020].

[2]- Owp.csus.edu. 2020. Energy Grade Line (EGL). [online] Available at: <https://www.owp.csus.edu/glossary/energy-
grade-line.php> [Accessed 15 September 2020].

[3]- Allain, R., 2020. Demonstrations Of Bernoulli's Principle You Can Try At Home. [online] Wired. Available at:
<https://www.wired.com/story/bernoulli-demonstrations/#:~:text=As%20I%20blow%20over%20the,a%20greater
%20force%20pushing%20up.> [Accessed 15 September 2020].

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