NAMIBIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY

Department: Civil Engineering

Course: Bachelor of Civil Engineering (NQF Level: 8)
Author: Student Number:
Lecturer: Mr. Madueke Okorie
Laboratory Technician: Mr. Conrad January
Laboratory: The Bernoulli Experiment Laboratory Report
Group Members: Group 1
Initials Surname Student Numbers.
F.N Hailonga 220119708
Q.S.A Abrahams 221102167
E.N Haindongo 220038252
JNK Kavihuha 221006826
MM Kristian 220071039
MRN Ndhlukula 221005773
NH Ndjibu 221126767
SS Shikwaya 221053115
JDK Shiluama 220100381
Table of Contents
Introduction

The Bernoulli Equation experiment is an important relation in fluid mechanics since it

expresses the relationship between fluid pressure, velocity and elevation for an
incompressible fluid along a streamline. Bernoulli theorem is based on four
assumptions for fluid flow, frictionless, steady, incompressible and along the same
stream line. A fluid's flow must adhere to a variety of scientific principles, including
mass conservation and energy conservation. When applied to a liquid flowing via a
conduit, the first of these requires that the velocity be inversely proportional to the
flow area for steady flow. The second condition is that as velocity increases,
pressure must decrease. The Bernoulli laboratory experiment increase the students’
practical knowledge on the steady of fluid with relations to the Bernoulli equation.
Cussons P6231 Bernoulli's Apparatus illustrates both of these concepts and can also
be used to investigate the development of turbulence in a moving fluid stream. Both
Bernoulli's equation and the Continuity equation are essential mathematical tools for
most problems in fluid mechanics. With the Bernoulli and Continuity equations under
practical testing students will be able to understand the characteristics of fluid flow
much more adequately.
The dynamic lift provided by an airplane wing is a real-life example of Bernoulli's
principle. Because of the wing's rounded form and modest slant, air moves quicker
on top of it than below it. As a result, the pressure on top is smaller, allowing the
wing to be acted upon by an upward net force.
Apparatus and Procedure
Apparatus

The following equipment was required to complete the demonstration of the Bernoulli
equation experiment:

 F1-10 hydraulics bench which allows flow by timed volume collection to

be measured.
 F1-12 Bernoulli’s apparatus test equipment.
 A stopwatch for timing the flow measurement.
 Ruler for measuring head difference.
 Cussons P6231 Bernoulli Apparatus.

Procedure of the Experiment

Theoretical Analysis
Developing governing Equations

Bernoulli Theorem

Take a pipe with varying diameter and height through which an incompressible fluid flows.
There exist a relationship between the areas of cross-sections A, the flow speed v, height
from the ground y1 and y2, and pressure p at the two points as shown in the figure below.

The equation is derived bases on the assumptions that:

 Density of the incompressible fluid is the same on both points.
 There are no viscous forces in the fluid, which means that energy of the fluid
conserved.
Therefore, the work done on the fluid is given as:
dW = F1dx1 – F2dx2
dW = p1A1dx1 – p2A2dx2
dW = p1dV – p2dV = (p1 – p2)dV

As we know that work done on the fluid was due to conservation of gravitational
force and change in kinetic energy is given as:
1 2 1 2 1 2 2
dK = m2 v2 − m1 v 2= pdV ( v 2−v 1 )
2 2 2
The change in potential energy is given as:

U =mg y 2−mg y 1= pdVg ( y 2− y 1 )

Therefore, the energy equation is given as:

dW =dK + dU

1
( p1− p2 ) dV = 2 pdV ( v 2−v 1) + pdVg ( y 2 − y 1)
2 2

1
( p1− p2 ) = 2 p ( v 2−v 1 ) + pg ( y 2− y 1 )
2 2

After rearranging the equation above you get:

1 2 1 2
p1 + p v 1+ pg y 1= p 2+ p v 2 + pg y 2
2 2
When y1 = y2 the equation becomes:

1 2 1 2
p1 + p v 1 = p 2 + p v 2
2 2

Total Pressure Head

Hydrostatic pressure (P) is measured along the flow is by manometers tapped into
the duct. The pressure head (h), therefore calculated as:

P
h=
pg
Thus, Bernoulli’s equation can be written as:
 2 2
v1 v2
h1 + =h2 +
2g 2g

v 21
which is also called velocity head (hd)
2g

The pressure head measured by a probe with an end facing into the flow such that it
brings the flow to rest locally at the probe end. Therefore,

ht =h+ hd

ht 1=ht 2

Continuity Equation
For an incompressible fluid, conservation of mass requires that volume is also
conserved.
A rea A Velocity A = A reaB Velocity B
Experimental Results
Results and Analyses
Water Temperature °C Density of Water kg/ Viscosity of water Ns/
3 2
m m
Quantity of Water Time to Collect Volumetric Flow Rate
Collected (litres) Water (Sec) Q liter/min
Tapping 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Number
Flow 102.56 90.1 77.66 65.22 52.7 40.32 52.77 65.2 77.66 90.11 102.56
Area 1 7 2
2
mm
Static
Head

Velocity
m/ s
Reynold
s
Number

Observation

Inlet Head [
mm]
Outlet
Head [mm]
Volume [
litres ]
Time [ sec]

Flow Rate [
Litres/s ]
Tapping
No.
Flow Area [
2
mm ]
Static Head
[m ]
Velocity [
m/ s ]
Dynamic
Head [m ]
2
v
h+ [m ]
2g
Distance [
m]

Inlet Head [
mm ]
Outlet
Head [mm]
Volume [
litres ]
Time [ sec]

Flow Rate [
Litres/s ]
Tapping
No.
Flow Area [
mm2 ]
Static Head
[m ]
Velocity [
m/ s ]
Dynamic
Head [m ]
v2
h+ [m ]
2g
Distance [
m]

Inlet Head [
mm ]
Outlet
Head [mm]
Volume [
litres ]
Time [ sec]

Flow Rate [
Litres/s ]
Tapping
No.
Flow Area [
 mm2 ]
Static Head
[m ]
Velocity [
m/ s ]
Dynamic
Head [m ]
v2
h+ [m ]
2g
Distance [
m]

Discussion

The goal of the experiment is check for the accuracy of the Bernoulli’s equation. When it is
applied to the steady flow of water in a tapered duct.
This experiment is also used 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.
As shown by the calculations, the velocity of the flowing fluid is increased as the fluid flows
from a wider to narrower pipe no matter the pressure difference and type of flow of each
result taken. These can be seen in all results tables.
For convergent flow, the total head pressure head decreases from h 1 to h5 for all pressure
differences. As for divergent it is vice versa, h1 is the lowest while h5 is the highest.
After the experiment, there were some errors on the results. This may be due to error when
taking the measurements of each data.
One of the observers might have misread the level of the static head, where their eyes
were probably not perpendicular to the water level on the manometer. Therefore there are
some minor effects on the calculations due errors.

Conclusions
In conclusion, the velocity of the fluid increase as it flows from a wider to a narrower tube
and the velocity will decrease in the opposite case regardless of the type of flow and the
pressure difference.
The total pressure head for convergent flow decreased from h1 to h5. While the total head
pressure divergent increased from h1 to h5.
There were some errors in the results, this may be due to errors in recording the
measurements.
These errors can be reduced if precautions were taken during the experiment. The observer
could have keep his/her eyes perpendicular to the manometer scale when taking the
reading.
Bernoulli’s theorem can be applied in our everyday lives. When given the velocities at two
points of the streamline and pressure at one point, the unknown pressure at the other
point. If it satisfies the Bernoulli’s Equation, we can find the unknown pressure.
In further conclusion, from all the data and results calculated it has proved the accuracy of
the Bernoulli’s Equation, with some minor errors. All the flow rates and both static and total
pressure heads in a rigid convergent and divergent were managed to be calculated.
Conclusion
Addenda
References

1. Ahmari, H.,Kabir, S.M.I.,(n.d), Applied Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual retrieved from
http://uta.pressbooks.pub/appliedfluidmechanics/chapter/experiment-2/
2. Bernoulli’s Principle.(2022) In BYJU’S. Retrieved from http://byjus.com/physics/bernoullis-
principle/
3. 14.8: Bernoulli’s Equation.(2022). Physics LibreTexts. Retrieved from
https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/University_Physics/Book/Fluid_Mechanis/
_Bernoullis_Equation/
4.