ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted in order to find the volumetric flow rates of the water, the
time taken to collect 3L volume of water, the pressure difference at all manometer tube, velocity,
dynamic head and also the total head. The combination of venturi meter complete with
manometer tube and hydraulic bench were used.
Bernoullis Theorem experiments apparatus consists of a classical venturimeter. A series of
wall tapping allow measurement of the static pressure distribution along the converging duct,
while a total head tube is provided to traverse along the centre line of the test section. These
tapping are connected to a manometer bank incorporating a manifold with air bleed valve.
During the experiment, water is fed through a hose connector and the flow rate can be
adjusted at the flow regulator valve at the outlet of the test section. The venturi can be
demonstrated as a means of flow measurement and the discharge coefficient can be determined.
The results show the reading of each manometer tubes increase when the pressure difference
increases.
INTRODUCTION

Bernoulli's Principle states that for an inviscid flow of a non-conducting fluid, an increase in the
speed of the fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid's
potential energy. Bernoulli's Principle is named in honor of Daniel Bernoulli who published it in his
book Hydrodynamica in 1738. Suppose a fluid is moving in a horizontal direction and encounters a
pressure difference. This pressure difference will result in a net force, which is by Newtons Second
Law will cause an acceleration of the fluid.
Bernoullis Principle can be demonstrated by the Bernoulli equation. The Bernoulli equation is an
approximate relation between pressure, velocity, and elevation. While the Continuity equation relates
the speed of a fluid that moving through a pipe to the cross sectional area of the pipe. It says that as a
radius of the pipe decreases the speed of fluid flow must increase and vice-versa.

The Bernoulli equation:

kinetic energy + potential energy + flow energy = constant

However, Bernoullis Principle can only be applied under certain conditions. The
conditions to which Bernoullis equation applies are the fluid must be frictionless and of constant
density. The flow must be steady, and the relation holds in general for single streamlines.
In general, frictional effects are always important very close to solid wall and directly
downstream of bodies. Thus, the Bernoulli approximation is typically useful in flow regions
outside of boundary layers and wakes, where the fluid motion is governed by the combined
effects of pressure and gravity forces.
Bernoulli's principle can be explained in terms of the law of conservation of energy. As a
fluid moves from a wider pipe into a narrower pipe or a constriction, a corresponding volume
must move a greater distance forward in the narrower pipe and thus have a greater speed.
At the same time, the work done by corresponding volumes in the wider and narrower
pipes will be expressed by the product of the pressure and the volume. Since the speed is greater
in the narrower pipe, the kinetic energy of that volume is greater. Then, by the law of
conservation of energy, this increase in kinetic energy must be balanced by a decrease in the
pressure-volume product, or, since the volumes are equal, by a decrease in pressure.

OBJECTIVES

1) To find the time taken to collect 3L of water, the volumetric flow rates of the water, the
pressure difference at all manometer tube (static head), velocity, dynamic head and also the
total head.
2) To investigate the validity of the Bernoulli equation when applied to the steady flow of water
in a tapered duct.

THEORY
Bernoulli's equation clearly stated that the assumptions made in deriving the Bernoullis equation are:

The liquid is incompressible.

The liquid is non-viscous.

The flow is steady and the velocity of the liquid is less than the critical velocity for the liquid.

There is no loss of energy due to friction.

Bernoullis equation may be written as;

V12 P1
V2 P
z1 2 2 z2
2g
2g
Starting from a fluid element along a streamline derived the Bernoulli equation for steady onedimensional flow of an incompressible, in viscid fluid;
2

V
P
z
2g

P0

Where;

= the specific weight of the fluid

z = the elevation,
V = the velocity on the centre streamline in the Venturi tube,
P and P0 = the static and stagnation (total) pressure respectively
If horizontal tube levelled correctly, then z1=z2 and the Bernoullis equation is simplified as;

V12 P1
V2 P
z1 2 2 z2
2g
2g

V12 P1 V22 P2

2g 2g

V12

2g

V2 P

2g
Velocity head = hv

Total head, hT = hs + hv=

Then derive the expression for the velocity V along the streamline as function of P and P0. From
the continuity equation for steady incompressible flow, the mean velocity U at each cross-section of
the Venturi tube is:

Q
A

Q is the volume flow rate, A is the cross-section area.

APPARATUS
Venturi meter, Hydraulic bench, Stop watch, Water, Water tank equipped with valves water controller,
Water host and tubes.

The air bleed screw

Pad of manometer tubes

The control valve

venturi

PROCEDURES

Equipments Set Up
1. The Bernoullis equation apparatus is first set up on the hydraulic bench so that the base is in
the horizontal position.
2. The test section is ensured to have the 14- tapered section converging in the direction of the
flow.
3. The rig outflow tube is positioned above the volumetric tank.
4. The rig inlet is connected to the bench flow supply, the bench valve and the apparatus flow
control are closed and then the pump is started.
5. Gradually, the bench valve is opened to fill the test rig with the water.
6. In order to bleed air pressure tapping point and the manometers, both the bench valves and the
rig flow control valves are closed. Then, the air bleed screw is opened and the cap from the
adjacent air valve is removed.
7. A length of small-bore tuning from the air valve is connected to the volumetric tank.
8. The bench valve is opened and allowed to flow through the manometer to purge all air from
them.
9. After that, the air bleed screw is tightened and both the bench valve and rig flow control valve
are partly opened.
10. Next, the air bleed is opened slightly to allow the air to enter the top of the manometers. The
screw is re-tightened when the manometer reach a convenient height.
Taking A Set Of Results
1. The h1 h5 are set to be 50 ml using air bleed screw.
2. After the specific volume of h1 h5 is reached, the ball valve is closed and the time taken to
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

accumulate 3L of fluid in the tank is measured.

Steps 1 and 2 are repeated with the different level of h1 h5.
Then, the test section is reversed to get the diverging flow.
The test section is removed by unscrewing the two coupling and being reversed.
The couplings are tightened.
Steps 1 until 3 are repeated for diverging section.

RESULTS
Experiment 1(flow rate: fast)
3
Volume ( m )

Time (s)

3 x 10-3
11.38

2.64x 10-4

m3
Flow Rate ( s )

Cross

Using Bernoulli equation

section
#

Using Continuity

Difference

equation
h* = hH

hi

(mm)

(mm)

2 g

ViB =

(m/s)

Ai =

Vic =

ViB - Vic

Di2

Q av
Ai

(m/s)

(m2)

(m/s)

190

175

1.716

5.31 x 10-4

0.497

1.219

180

160

1.981

3.66 x 10-4

0.721

1.260

175

120

3.285

2.01 x 10-4

1.313

1.972

165

140

2.215

3.14 x 10-4

0.841

1.374

165

145

1.981

3.80 x 10-4

0.695

1.286

164

155

1.323

5.31 x 10-4

0.497

0.826

Experiment 2(flow rate: medium)

3
Volume ( m )

Time (s)
m3
Flow Rate ( s )

3 x 10-3
9.5
3.16x 10-4

Cross

Using Bernoulli equation

section
#

h* = hH

hi
ViB =

(mm)

(mm)

2 g

(m/s)

Using Continuity

Differenc

equation

Ai =

Vic =

ViB - Vic

D i2

Q av
Ai

(m/s)

(m2)

(m/s)

210

185

2.215

5.31 x 10-4

0.595

1.620

207

170

2.694

3.66 x 10-4

0.863

1.831

205

70

5.147

2.01 x 10-4

1.572

3.575

190

135

3.285

3.14 x 10-4

1.006

2.279

185

150

2.620

3.80 x 10-4

0.832

1.788

185

164

2.030

5.31 x 10-4

0.595

1.435

Experiment 3(flow rate: slow)

3
Volume ( m )

3 x 10-3

Time (s)

7.88
3

m
Flow Rate ( s

Cross

3.807x 10-4

Using Bernoulli equation

section
#

h* = hH

hi

2 g

ViB =

Using Continuity

Differenc

equation

Ai =

Vic =

ViB - Vic

(mm)

(mm)

Di2

Q av
Ai

(m2)

(m/s)

(m/s)

(m/s)

232

200

2.506

5.31 x 10-4

0.717

1.789

230

190

3.706

3.66 x 10-4

1.040

2.666

224

110

4.729

2.01 x 10-4

1.894

2.835

205

145

3.431

3.14 x 10-4

1.212

2.219

200

160

2.801

3.80 x 10-4

1.002

1.799

202

175

2.302

5.31 x 10-4

0.717

1.585

CALCULATIONS
Experiment 1:

Flow rate of water =

(3 L

1 m3
) 11.38 s = 2.64 x 10-4
1000 L

Sample Calculation (cross section A):

Bernoulli equation:
2 g

ViB =

2 9.81

ViB =

ViB = 1.716 m/s

Continuity equation:
D i2
Ai = 4
Ai =

(26 103)2
4

Ai = 5.31 x 10-4 m2

m3
s

Vic =

Q av
Ai

Vic =

2.64 104
5.31 x 104

Vic = 0.497 m/s

Thus, ViB - Vic = 1.716 m/s - 0.497 m/s
= 1.219 m/s

Experiment 2:
3

Flow rate of water =

(3 L

1m
) 9.5 s = 3.16 x 10-4
1000 L

Sample Calculation (cross section A):

Bernoulli equation:
2 g

ViB =

2 9.81

ViB =

ViB = 2.215 m/s

Continuity equation:
D i2

Ai =
4
3 2

Ai =

(26 10 )
4

Ai = 5.31 x 10-4 m2
Vic =

Q av
Ai

m
s

Vic =

3 .16 104
5.31 x 104

Vic = 0.595 m/s

Thus, ViB - Vic = 2.215 m/s - 0.595 m/s
= 1.62 m/s
Experiment 3:
3

Flow rate of water =

(3 L

1m
)7.8 8 s = 3.807 x 10-4
1000 L

Sample Calculation (cross section A):

Bernoulli equation:
2 g

ViB =

2 9.81

ViB =

ViB = 2.506 m/s

Continuity equation:
Di
Ai = 4

3 2

(26 10 )
Ai =
4
Ai = 5.31 x 10-4 m2
Vic =

Q av
Ai

Vic =

3.807 10
5.31 x 104

Vic = 0.717 m/s

m
s

Thus, ViB - Vic = 2.506 m/s - 0.717 m/s

= 1.789 m/s

DISCUSSION
The objectives of this experiment is to investigate the validity of the Bernoulli equation when
applied to the steady flow of water in a tapered duct and to measure the flow rates and both static and
total pressure heads in a rigid convergent and divergent tube of known geometry for a range of steady
flow rates. This experiment is based on the Bernoullis principle which relates between velocities
with the pressure for an inviscid flow.
To achieve the objectives of this experiment, Bernoullis 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 h1until h8. A venturi is basically a
converging-diverging section, typically placed between tube or duct sections with fixed crosssectional area. The flow rates through the venturi meter can be related to pressure measurements by
using Bernoullis equation.
From the result obtained through this experiment, it is been observed that when the pressure
difference increase, the flow rates of the water increase and thus the velocities also increase.. The
result show a rise at each manometer tubes when the pressure difference increases. 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 and type of flow of each result taken.
From the analysis of the results, it can be concluded that the velocity of water decrease as the
water flow rate decrease. For slow flow rate, the velocity difference at cross section A for water flow
rate is (1.219m/s), B (1.26m/s), C (1.972m/s), D (1.374m/s), E (1.286 m/s), F (0.826m/s). Also for
medium flow rate, the velocity difference at cross section A for water flow rate is (1.62 m/s), B
(1.831 m/s), C (3.575m/s), D (2.279 m/s), E (1.788 m/s), F (1.435 m/s). At the same time, for fast
flow rate, the velocity difference at cross section A for water flow rate is (1.789 m/s), B (2.666 m/s),
C (2.835 m/s), D (2.219m/s), E (1.799m/s), F (1.585m/s). So,it can be concluded that the diameter of
the tube will affect the differences in velocity as a bigger tube will cause the differences in velocity
become bigger while the smaller tube cause the velocity differences between V iB and Vic to be smaller.
The flow rate of the difference flow also different. From the result, we can see that the flow rate of

slow condition is 3.807x 10-4, then for medium flow rate is 3.16x 10 -4and lastly for the fast rate is
2.64x 10-4. So we can conclude that the fast flow rate is higher than slow flow rate.
There are few mistakes that have occurred during the experiment. First, parallax and zero
error occurs when taking the measurement of each data. The observer must have not read the level of
static head properly because the eyes are not perpendicular to the water level on the manometer. Also,
while taking the reading of the manometer, there might be possibility that the eye position of the
readers is not parallel to the scale. Therefore, there are some minor effects on the calculations due to
the errors.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the Bernoullis equation is valid when applied to steady
flow of water in tapered duct and absolute velocity values increase along the same channel. Although
the experiment proof that the Bernoullis equation is valid for both flow but the values obtain might
be slightly different from the actual value.

CONCLUSION
The results show the reading of each manometer tubes increase when the pressure difference
increases. From the result obtained, we can conclude that the Bernoullis equation is valid
for convergent and divergent flow as both of it does obey the equation. For both flow, as the pressure
difference increase, the time taken for 3L water collected increase and the flow rates of the water also
increase. Thus, as the velocity of the same channel increase, the total head pressure also increase for
both convergent and divergent flow.

RECOMMENDATION
1. Make sure the trap bubbles are removed before starting the experiment by tapping
the surface of the rubber pipe.
2. In order to get more accurate results, repeat the experiment several times to get the
average values.
3. To avoid parallax error, the position of the observers eyes must be parallel to the
water meniscus when taking the reading at the manometers.
4. Make sure there is no leakage of water in the instrument when conducting the
experiment.
REFERENCE

1. Bernoullis Theorem Demonstration, 27 August 2010, at

http://www.solution.com.my/pdf/FM24(A4).pdf
2. Bernoullis Principle, 27 August 2010, at http://theory.uwinnipeg.ca/mod_tech/node68.html
3. Bernoullis Principle Computer Dictionary Definition, 27 August 2010, at
http://www.yourdictionary.com/computer/bernoulli-s-principle

APPENDIX

Small bubbles in the tube that needs to be

Initial height of water at 150mm

clear off

Final height of water