APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLE: 1.

The coefficient of discharge is heavily related to the volumetric flow rate of the fluid flow and the cross sectional area of the orifice. It is also related to the gravitational constant and the head pressure. Hence, it applies that the discharge coefficient is justifiable to be constant over the range of steady flows tested because each steady flow would correspond to the volumetric flow rate and the head pressure that are held constant for such flows. 2. The values of the coefficient of discharge are significantly less than one because it is a ratio of the actual discharge divided by the ideal discharge. And it is to be noted that the actual discharge would tend to be less than the ideal discharge since it would be directly affected by friction as the jet passes through the orifice. Thus, the values would really be less than one.

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS: In this experiment, the flow of fluid through an orifice has been observed and it is aimed to be characterized by calculating for the coefficient of discharge for each steady flows. And to compute for the coefficient of discharge, we have calculated for the coefficient of velocity and coefficient of contraction; wherein the product of the two values will render the coefficient of discharge. The Coefficient of Velocity is the ratio of the actual velocity divided by the ideal velocity. The actual velocity is the velocity that is achieved and which is affected by friction as the jet passes through the orifice. The ideal velocity would be the velocity achieved without friction and is related to the head pressure. And the results we have gathered for the coefficient of the velocity would then characterize the flow of the fluid through the orifice.

While, on the other hand, the coefficient of contraction is the ratio of the actual diameter of the jet divided by the ideal diameter of the jet. The actual diameter is the diameter that occurs and which is affected by friction as the jet passes through the orifice. The ideal diameter would be the diameter of the orifice. These values would then render the contraction of the fluid due to the friction as the jet passes through the orifice and as it reaches its vena contracta, the place where the water jet narrows from the diameter of the orifice to the diameter of the rest of the jet. With such values at hand, we were then able to compute for the coefficient of discharge which is the ratio product of the coefficient of contraction and the coefficient of velocity. The coefficient of discharge is heavily related to the volumetric flow rate of the fluid flow and the cross sectional area of the orifice. It is also related to the gravitational constant and the head pressure. Comparing the values gathered, some discrepancies are observed which may be due to the inaccurate measurement of the diameter and flow rates; miscalculations; wrong interpretation of data; and wrong conversions.

CONCLUSION: Upon performing the experiment, it could be concluded that a fluid passing though an orifice constriction will experience a drop in pressure across the orifice. And that this change can be used to measure the flow rate of the fluid, which is to be characterized by the coefficient of discharge. From the results gathered, it was then that the coefficient of discharge is heavily related to the volumetric flow rate of the fluid flow and the cross sectional area of the orifice. It is also related to the gravitational constant and the head pressure. Hence, it applies that the discharge

coefficient is justifiable over the range of steady flows tested because each steady flow would correspond to the volumetric flow rate and the head pressure that characterize such flows. It was also noted that the values of the coefficient of discharge are significantly less than one because it is a ratio of the actual discharge divided by the ideal discharge. The actual discharge would tend to be less than the ideal discharge since it would be directly affected by friction as the jet passes through the orifice. Thus, the values would really be less than one.

REFERENCES: Michigan Technological University. (2010). Orifice Experiment.

http://www.cee.mtu.edu/~dwatkins/ce3600_labs/orifice.pdf. Retrieved 13 August 2010.

Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI. (2008). ME 310 Fluid Mechanics: Experiment of 10 Coefficient of Discharge, and Coefficient Jet of

Velocity,Coefficient

Contraction

Orifice

Apparatus.

http://www.engr.iupui.edu/me/courses/me310lab/experiment10.pdf. Retrieved 13 August 2010.

The University of Texas at Tyler. (2010).

Flow Through an Orifice. Retrieved

http://me.uttyler.edu/jshenefe/courses/Lab_II/Flow_Through_an_Orifice.pdf. 13 August 2010.