CONTINUITY PRINCIPLE ON

THE WATER HOSE

Yayi Ania
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
PROGRAM
EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF TARBIYA AND TEACHING SCIENCE
SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
Jl. Ir. Juanda No 95 Jakarta 15412
Phone. 021-7493315, 7493606 Fax 021-7493315
Email: yayiania02@gmail.com

Abstract
The water flows through the hose and when it reaches the
narrower nozzle, the velocity of the water increases.

Speed

increases

speed

decreases

when
when

cross-sectional
cross-sectional

area
area

consequence of the continuity equation.

decreases,
increases.

and
This

is

If the flow Q is held

constant, when the area A decreases, the velocity v must increase

proportionally. Misconceptions

that

are

often experienced by

students when studying the continuity principle of when you put your
thumb over the end of a hose, you make the opening smaller; and as
you do so, you can feel debit or flow rate of water volume increases
Keyword: flows, hose, nozzle, velocity, increases

Introductions

It takes little more than a brief look around for us to recognize

that fluid dynamics is one of the most important of all areas of physics
life as we know it would not exist without fluids, and without the
behavior that fluids exhibit. The air we breathe and the water we
drink (and which makes up most of our body mass) are fluids. Motion
of air keeps us comfortable in a warm room, and air provides the
oxygen we need to sustain life. Similarly, most of our (liquid) body
fluids are water based. And proper motion of these fluids within our
bodies, even down to the cellular level, is essential to good health. It
is clear that fluids are completely necessary for the support of carbonbased life forms.
Discussion
Water Hose or Pipe

Figure 1: Garden hose

A hose is a flexible hollow tube designed to carry fluids from

one location to another. Hoses are also sometimes called pipes (the
word pipe usually refers to a rigid tube, whereas a hose is usually a
flexible one), or more generally tubing. The shape of a hose is usually
cylindrical (having a circular cross section). Hoses are used to carry
2

fluids through air or fluid environments, and they are typically used
with clamps, spigots, flanges, and nozzles to control fluid flow.
The concept of continuity principle
Fluid or liquid (including water vapor and gas) are distinguished
from solid objects as its ability to flow. Fluid flows more easily because
the

molecular

bond

the fluid is much smaller than the molecular bonding in solids, as a

result

of

fluid

has a relatively small barriers to change shape due to friction. Solids

retain a fixed shape and size, though a great style given to the solids,
the solids are not easily changed shape and volume, while liquids and
gases,

liquids

do

not

maintain a fixed shape, the liquid follows the shape of the container
and volume can be changed only if given him a very large force and
gas has no shape nor volume and fixed, the gas will evolve fill the
entire container. Because the liquid phase and the gas does not
maintain a fixed shape, both have the ability to flow. With Therefore,
the two - both are often collectively referred to as the fluid.

In everyday life Often people use the term "debit". debit it

states that the volume of a fluid flowing through a cross section in
particular on certain interval of time. Mathematically, it can be

Expressed as follows:

Q=

V
t

For more details, we use an example, such a fluid flowing

through a pipe.

Pipe generally cylindrical and has a certain cross-sectional area.

It also has a long pipe (See image below)
When the fluid flow in the pipe as far as L, for example, the
volume of fluid in the pipe is V=A.L. where Is: V = volume of fluid
A = cross-sectional area
L = length of pipe
Because during the flow in a pipe along (L), fluid take a certain
time interval (t), then we can say that the amount of fluid flow:
Q=

V AL
=
t
t

Because :

s L
V= =
t t , then

L=Vt

Therefore

Q=

AL A (Vt )
=
= AV
t
t

Thus, when the fluid flows through a pipe that has a certain
cross-sectional area and length during a certain time interval, then
the amount of volume flow rate (Q) is equal to the cross-sectional
surface area (A) multiplied by the fluid flow rate (v)
in general, the fluid flowing into the enclosed volume of the
surface at certain points and exit at the other points. Continuity
equation is a mathematical expression of the things that the net
amount of mass that flows into a limited surface is equal to the mass
increase in the surface.

1.2
The picture above shows the fluid flow from left to right (the
fluid flow of large diameter pipes to the small diameter). Dashed line
is the current line.
Where : A1 = cross-sectional area of large diameter pipe sections.
A2 = cross-sectional area of small diameter pipe sections.
v1 = velocity of fluid flow in large-diameter pipe sections.
v2 = velocity of fluid flow in small diameter pipe sections.
L = length of the fluid.
For an incompressible (ideal) fluid, the volume flow rate is the
same at any points in the fluid. On figure 1.2, the volume flow rate
cross A1 is the same with the volume flow rate a cross A2. Thus, we
have Q1 = Q2 :
Q1 = Q2

A1v1 = A2v2

The same volume of the fluid that enters the pipe in a given
time interval exist the pipe in the same time interval. Where the
diameter of the tube or pipe is large, the speed of the fluid is small;
where the diameter is small, the fluid is large.
A familiar example is what happens when you use your thumb
to partially block the and of a garden hose to make a jet of water. The
water moves past your thumb, where the cross-sectional area is
smalller, at a greater speed than it moves in the hose. Similarly, water
traveling a river speeds up, forming rapids, when the riverbad

narrows or is a partially blocked by rocks and boulders.

The water flows through the hose and when it reaches the
narrower nozzle, the velocity of the water increases.

Speed

increases

speed

decreases

when
when

cross-sectional
cross-sectional

area

decreases,

area

consequence of the continuity equation.

increases.

and
This

is

If the flow Q is held

constant, when the area A decreases, the velocity v must increase

proportionally.
Misconceptions that are often experienced by students when
studying the Continuity principle is students assume when the
6

velocity of a fluid increases, the discharge of water (water volume

rate) increases. But the concept, that the volume flow rate or
discharge is always the same at every point along the pipe / tube
flow. When the pipe cross-section decreases, the fluid flow rate
increases, on the contrary when the pipe becomes large, fluid flow
rate becomes small. To avoid misconceptions that occur in students,
students

should

look

for

more

references

to

strengthen

understanding of the concept of continuity principle. In addition,

students also should be more discussion with friends or teachers to
get a better share knowledge about continuity principle.

Conclusion
In the dynamic fluid contained Continuity principle, The
equation of continuity works under the assumption that the flow in
will equal the flow out. the same volume of the fluid that enters the
pipe in a given time interval exist the pipe in the same time interval.
Where the diameter of the tube is large, the speed of the fluid is
small; where thye diameter is small, the fluid is large. A familiar
example is what happens when you use your thumb to partially block
the and of a garden hose to make a jet of water. The water moves
past your thumb, where the cross-sectional area is smalller, at a
greater speed than it moves in the hose. volume flow rate or
discharge is always the same at every point along the pipe / tube
flow. Either when the majority of our faucets mouth shut or not. So
the change is the fluid flow rate. When the pipe cross-section
decreases, the fluid flow rate increases, on the contrary when the
pipe becomes large, fluid flow rate becomes small.

Vocab
- Againts
- Pipe

: Terhadap
: Pipa

- Capabilities

: Kemampuan

- Concept

: Konsep

- Continity

: Kontinuitas

- Cross-Sectional

: Penampang

- Current

: Saat

- Dynamics

: Dinamik

- Equation

: Persamaan

- Flow

: Mengalir

- Fluid
- Frictional

: Fluida
: Bergeser

- Hydrodinamics

: Fluida Dinamis

- Incompressible

: Tidak dapat digengam

- Interval

: Selang

- Knowladge
- Learning

: Pengetahuan
: Pembelajaran

- Learning Medium: Media Pembelajaran

- Quantities

: Jumlah

- Specially

: Khususnya

- Steady

: Terus-menerus

- Streamline
- Surface

: Arah aliran
: Permukaan

References :
Hugo d, young, roger a.freedman.alih bahasa Juliastuti
endang.2002.Fisika
Universitas.Jakarta: Erlangga.
Sutrisno dan Siti Ahmiarti.2007. Fisika Dasar I. Jakarta: Lembaga
Penelitian UIN
Jakarta dengan UIN Press
Umar,Efrizon.2010.Physics for senior high school.Bekasi: Ganeca Exact.