BERNOULLI’S

PRINCIPLE
Principle: The sum of pressure energy, kinetic energy
and potential energy per unit volume of an
incompressible, non-viscous fluid in a streamlined
flow remains constant in a streamline

01
P+ ½ pv^2 + pgh = constant
◦ Bernoulli’s equation relates the pressure difference
between two points in a pipe to both velocity
changes( Kinetic energy change) and height
changes( potential energy change)
◦ Based on law of conservation of energy and applies to
ideal fluids
Consider the flow of a
fluid between the
sections A and B of
varying cross-sections
Let the area of cross section at A be ‘a1’
fluid velocity at A be ‘V1’
fluid pressure at A be ‘p1’
mean height at A be ‘h1’

Let the area of cross section at B be ‘a2’

fluid velocity at B be ‘V2’
fluid pressure at B be ‘p2’
mean height at B be ‘h2’
As we already know, density of the incompressible fluid remains
constant and mass of the fluid entering the pipe is equal to the
mass of the fluid flowing out
◦ Mass m= volume * density;

m = Area of cross-section * l* P
m = a1 v1 Del t p= a2 v2 del 2 p – (1)
(or) a1 v1 = a2 v2 –(2)
Change in K.E = K.E at B – K.E at A
= ½ m(v2 –v1)^2
K.E = ½ a1 v1 del t p(v2^2 –V1^2) using (1)
Change in P.E=P.E at B – P.E at A
= mg(h2 – h1)
= a1 v1 del t P g (h2 – h1) using (1)

Net work done on the fluid = W.D at A-

W.D at B
Net W.D = p1 a1 v1 del t – p2 a2 v2 del t
= p1 a1 v1 del t – p2 a1 v1 del t

using (2)
= a1 v1 del t (p1 – p2)
By conservation of energy,
Net W.D on the fluid = change in K.E of the fluid + change in P.E of the fluid

Substituting,

a1 v1 del t (p1 – p2) = ½ a1 v1 del t p(v2^2-v1^2) + a1 v1 del t p g (h2- h1)

Dividing both sides by a1 v1 del t,

p1 –p2 = ½ p (v2^2- v1^2) + p g (h2- h1)

p1 – p2 = ½ p v2^2 – ½ p v1^2 + pgh2- pgh1

P1 + ½ pv1^2 + pgh1 = P2 + ½ pv2^2 +pgh2

P + ½ pv^2 + pgh = constant ----(3)

The above equation proves Bernoulli’s principle, in which the total energy per unit volume remains constant.

Eqn (3) can also be written as P/pg + ½ v^2/g + h = constant

This is another form of Bernoulli’s principle according to which the sum of pressure, velocity and gravitational head
remains constant in the streamline flow of a fluid.