Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

Experiment 4

Pitot Tube
:Theory
When a fluid flows through a pipe, it exerts pressure that is
made up of static and dynamic components. The static
pressure is indicated by a measuring device moving with the
flow or that causes no velocity change in the flow. Usually, to
measure static pressure, a small hole perpendicular to the flow
is drilled through the container wall and connected to a
manometer (or pressure gage) as indicated in Figure 1.
The dynamic pressure is due to the movement of the fluid.
The dynamic pressure and the static pressure together make
up the total or stagnation pressure. The stagnation pressure
can be measured in the flow with a pitot tube. The pitot tube is
an open ended tube facing the flow directly. Figure 1 gives a
sketch of the measurement of stagnation pressure.

Figure(1) Measurement of static and stagnation

pressures.

Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

Experiment 4

The pitot-static tube combines the effects of static and

stagnation pressure measurement into one device. Figure 16.2
is a schematic of the pitot- static tube. It consists of a tube
within a tube which is placed in the duct facing upstream. The
pressure tap that faces the flow directly gives a measurement
of the stagnation pressure, while the tap that is perpendicular
to the flow gives the static pressure. When the pitot-static
tube is immersed in the flow of a fluid, the pressure
difference (stagnation minus static) can be read directly using
a manometer and connecting the pressure taps to each leg.
Applying the Bernoulli equation between the two pressure
taps yields:

Figure(2) Schematic of a pitot-static tube

Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

2
1

Experiment 4

2
2

P1 u
P2 u
+ + Z1 = + +Z 2
g 2 g
g 2 g

(1)

we rearrange the preceding equation and solve for velocity

u=

2(P1P2 )
air

P1P2=( m air ) . x . g .sin

(2)

(3)

where
m

density of manometer fluid.

xx

Procedure
1. Start with definite flow and measure the velocity (u actual)
by anemometer.
2. adjust position of pitot at center of duct(r=0).
3. When steady state reached . Record manometer readings(x).
4. set pitot tube at different position( 10 , 5, -5 , and -10) at
same flow rate and record manometer reading.

Calculations
Calculate (p1-p2) from equation 3 for each position of pitot. also,
evaluate theoretical velocity from equation 2.
Evaluate cv from the following equation
C v=

actual velocity
theoretical velocity

Plot u as a function of distance from the center.

3

Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

Experiment 4

Experiment Data Sheet:

u (actual)=

m/s
=

Distance
from center
r (mm)

X
(mm)

P1P2

(Pa)

u
(theoretical
)
(m/s)

cv

10
5
0
510-

Discussion
Suppose mercury instead of water was used as the
manometer fluid. How would this affect the accuracy of the
measurements if no other changes in the apparatus or
procedure were made?