Fluid Mechanics

Flow Rate & Bernoulli’s

Equation
 Volumetric Flow Rate
• volumetric flow rate: the volume
of fluid that passes a particular point
per unit of time
– example: liters/minute coming out of a
faucet
– metric units: m3/s
– note: not the same as flow velocity
(m/s)
 Flow Rate

volumetric flow rate = Q = Sv

Continuity
Equation
S

• If the fluid in the pipe is incompressible

(density remains constant) then the flow
rate must be the same everywhere in the
pipe.

• Therefore: Q1 = Q2

• …and S1v1 = S2v2  This is known as the

 Sample Problem 1
A pipe of non-uniform diameter carries
water. At one point on the pipe, the
radius is 2 cm and the flow speed is
6 m/s.

c.What is the volumetric flow rate?

e.What is the flow velocity at a point

where the pipe constricts to a radius
of 1 cm?
 Sample Problem 2
If the diameter of a pipe increases
from 4 cm to 12 cm, what will
happen to the flow velocity?
 Bernoulli’s Equation
• One of the most important idea in
fluid mechanics.

• It is the statement of the law of

conservation of energy for ideal
fluid flow (mechanical energy
balance equation).
 Conditions for Ideal Fluid
Flow
1. The fluid is incompressible. This
works well for liquids and also
applies to gases if the pressure
changes are small.
 Conditions for Ideal Fluid
Flow
1. The fluid’s viscosity is negligible or
zero.

Viscosity is the force of cohesion

between the molecules of a fluid. It
can be thought of as internal friction.
Syrup has a higher viscosity than
water – there’s more resistance to
the flow of syrup. Bernoulli’s
equation gives good results when
 Conditions for Ideal Fluid
Flow
1. The flow is streamline (laminar).

The fluid moves smoothly through the

tube. The opposite is turbulent flow.
Turbulent
Flow
 Bernoulli’s Equation
• If the conditions for ideal fluid flow
are met and the volumetric flow rate,
Q, is steady, Bernoulli’s equation can
be applied to any pair of points along
a streamline with the flow.
Bernoulli’s
Equation
z2

z1

• P1 & P2 = pressure at points 1 and 2

• v1 & v2 = flow velocity
• z1 & z2 = elevation above a reference level

Bernoulli’s Equation (each term has a unit of energy

per unit mass):
Bernoulli’s
Equation

Bernoulli’s Equation:

or…
 Implications of Bernoulli’s
Equation
Bernoulli’s Equation:

• Where the flow speed is high the

pressure is low, and where flow
speed is low, pressure is high.
 Applications of Bernoulli’s
Equation

• Close streamlines above wing indicate

high velocity (continuity equation).
Therefore the pressure above the wing is
lower which creates a loft force that
balances that of gravity.
Applications of Bernoulli’s
Equation
A person with constricted
arteries will find that they
may experience a
temporary lack of blood to
the brain (TIA – transient
ischemic attack) as blood
speeds up to get past the
constriction, thereby
reducing the pressure.
 Torricelli’s Theorem

Bernoulli’s equation can be used

to determine the efflux speed
(how fast the liquid flows out of the hole)
Torricelli’s Theorem
z2

z2-z1

z1
Torricelli’s Theorem
z2

z2-z1

z1

Points 1 and 2 are open to air, so P1 = P2 = Patm

Also,
Torricelli’s Theorem
z2

z2-z1

z1
Torricelli’s Theorem
z2

z2-z1

z1
Torricelli’s Theorem
z2

z2-z1

z1

v2 ≅ 0 (when compared to v1)

Torricelli’s Theorem
z2

z2-z1

z1

v2 ≅ 0 (when compared to v1)

Torricelli’s Theorem
z2

z2-z1

z1
 Torricelli’s Theorem
z2

z2-z1

z1

Solving for v1, we have

v1 = 2g(z 2 − z1 )α = 2ghα
 Siphoning
The figure below shows a siphon that is used to draw water
from a swimming pool. The pipe that makes up the siphon
has an inside diameter of 40mm and terminates with a 25-
mm diameter nozzle. Assuming that there are no energy
losses in the system, calculate the volume flow rate
through the siphon.
c Calculate also the pressure at points b,
c, d and e.
1.2m

a b d

40-mm inside
1.8m

diameter
1.2m

25-mm inside
e diameter

f
For Your Information
 Other Examples

How high will the jet

a
of water shown at
c the left be?
6m
h
(neglecting
energy losses)
b