United Arab Emirates University

College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department
Fluid Mechanics Lab
MECH-348
Experiment No. 6

Bernoullis Theorem
Student Name: Iman Abdulwaheed
Wafa Mubarak
Sayeda Abboud Al Ameri

ID: 200820143
200302479
200812660

Submitted to: Prof. Abdallah Al Amiri

Submission date: 10/4/2011

Spring 2011
1

Contents
Abstract ...................................3

Introduction ........3
Materials & Methods:
Apparatus 4-5
Procedures ...5-6
Equations 6

Results 7-17
Discussion .......17-18
Conclusion ...18
References .................................................................................19

 Abstract:
This report presents analysis based on Bernoullis theorem to investigate the
validity of Bernoullis theorem as applied to the flow of water in a tapering circular duct.
A description of the apparatus used in the experiment, tables, calculations and
figures are provided through the report to reach the goals.
It was found that the total head is constant throughout the duct which is equal
the static head added to the velocity head. It was found also that Bernoullis theorem is
valid.

Introduction:
The Bernoulli equation is an approximate relation between pressure, velocity,
and elevation, and is valid in regions of steady, incompressible flow where net frictional
forces are negligible. It has proven to be a very powerful tool in fluid mechanics.
The Bernoulli equation states that the sum of the flow, kinetic, and potential
energies of a fluid particle along a streamline is constant. Therefore, the kinetic and
potential energies of the fluid can be converted to flow energy (and vice versa) during
flow, causing the pressure to change.
Some applications where the Bernoulli equation can be applied are spraying
water into the air, discharging water from a large tank, and the rise of the ocean due to
a hurricane.
The main objectives of this experiment are to invistigate:
o

the total energy of a fluid flow through a passage of variable section.

the validity of Bernoullis theorem as applied to the flow of water in a tapering

circular duct.

 Materials and Methods:

o Apparatus:
Bernoulli's Apparatus shown in Figures (1) to (3), consists essentially of a two
dimensional rectangular section convergent divergent. A seven tube static pressure
manometer bank is attached to the convergent divergent duct. The differential head
across the test section can be varied from zero up to a maximum height.

Figure (1): Bernoullis Apparatus

Figure (2): Bernoullis Apparatus

Figure (3): Bernoullis Apparatus

Another apparatus used in the experiment is the stopwatch shown in Figure (4).
It was used to find the time during the tank is filled with water to a specified volume.

Figure (4): Stopwatch

o Procedures:
To achieve the aim of this experiment the following procedures were followed:
1. The apparatus was placed on a table or hydraulic bench.
2. The apparatus was leveled correctly using leveling feet (3H) and the spirit
level.
3. The control valve (1C) was closed and the pump was switched on.

4. The valves (6K) and (1C) was opened. Then time was allowed to get the air
out of the system.
5. Valve (6K) was adjusted to give a steady flow rate. Time was allowed for the
water levels in the piezometer tubes to stabilize and the values of h were
recorded.
6. The tip of the total head probe was located at each of the selected sections
and the total values were recorded.
7. Steps 3 to 6 were repeated again for different flow rates.
8. Valves (6K) and (1C) were closed and the pump was shut.
9. The test section was reversed from convergent to divergent and vice-versa.

o Equations:
The following equations were used through the experiment to determine
the reqiured values:

(1)
Where V = fluid velocity, Z = elevation head
(2)
Where hv = velocity head, hp = static or pressure head and is equal to

, it is also

called hydraulic grade line HGL, H = total head and is also called energy grade line EGL,
htc = total calculated head
(3)
Where Q = energy flow rate, V = volume in m

(4)

Where V = velocity in m/s

 Results:
Using the equations mentioned previosly, the following data in the tables were
obtained:
Convergence
Vi(m3)
0

Vf(m3)
0.001

Average
0

0.005

Average
0

0.005

Average
0

0.005

Average

t(sec)

ha

hb

hc

hd

he

hf

htm

13

61

73

86

98

117

134

137

16

60

71

80

99

111

130

136

18

69

70

82

90

110

139

134

15.67

0.063

0.0713

0.0827

0.0957

0.1127

0.1343

0.1357

90

88

99

106

115

124

132

133

88

80

100

105

114

123

133

132

89

87

98

107

116

125

131

134

89

0.085

0.099

0.106

0.115

0.124

0.132

0.133

33

50

84

130

173

218

264

268

36

49

83

129

172

219

263

267

38

51

85

131

174

217

265

269

35.67

0.05

0.084

0.13

0.173

0.218

0.264

0.268

45

63

93

135

240

210

251

255

44

62

92

134

241

209

250

254

46

64

94

136

242

211

249

256

45

0.063

0.093

0.135

0.241

0.21

0.25

0.255

Table (1): Convergent section results

Tubes
a
b
c
d
e
f

Volume=0.001m3
Velocity(m/s)
P(pa)
constant htotal
0.812704192 998.63595
0.1356 0.1356
0.723308296 1067.2926
0.1356 0.1356
0.6364712 1126.3322
0.1356 0.1356
0.52855417 1189.1952
0.1356 0.1356
0.381871297 1255.9672
0.1356 0.1356
0.130033995 1320.4256
0.1356 0.1356

heights(m)
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06

Volume=0.001m3
heights(m)=Htotal h(total)m
0.072333333
0.1356
0.064333333
0.1356
0.053
0.1356
0.04
0.1356
0.023
0.1356
0.001333333
0.1356

Table (2): Calculations for the first readings in convergent section

7

6.38298E-05

5.61798E-05

0.000140187

0.000111111

0.16

Height(m) Vs heads &total heads

0.14

Height(m)

0.12
0.1
heights(m)=Htotal

0.08

h(total)m

0.06

Poly. (heights(m)=Htotal)

0.04

Linear (h(total)m)

0.02

y = -16.25x2 - 0.2682x + 0.0764

R = 0.9996

0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

Height(m)

Figure5: Height Vs Heads and total head for the first readings

Volume=0.005m3
velocity(m/s)
0.715301442
0.636619662
0.560190007
0.465206854
0.33610395
0.114449397

Tubes
a
b
c
d
e
f

P(pa)
constant htotal
1047.572
0.133
0.133
1100.758
0.133
0.133
1146.494
0.133
0.133
1195.191
0.133
0.133
1246.917
0.133
0.133
1296.851
0.133
0.133

Volume=0.005m3
heights(m)

0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06

heights(m)=Htotal-h

0.048
0.034
0.027
0.018
0.009
0.005

h(total)m

0.133
0.133
0.133
0.133
0.133
0.133

Table (3): Calculations for the second readings in convergent section

0.14

height(m) Vs heads &total heads

0.12
0.1
height(m)

heights(m)=Htotal-h
0.08
h(total)m
0.06
Poly.
(heights(m)=Htotal-h)

0.04

Linear (h(total)m)
0.02

y = 7.5x2 - 1.3793x + 0.0604

R = 0.9944

0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

height(m)

Figure6: Height Vs Heads and total head for the second readings

Tubes
a
b
c
d
e
f

Volume=0.005m3
velocity(m/s)
1.784911076
1.588574296
1.397857308
1.160843271
0.838689296
0.285588681

P(pa)
constant htotal
1033.446
0.268
0.268
1364.616
0.268
0.268
1649.397
0.268
0.268
1952.621
0.268
0.268
2274.7
0.268
0.268
2585.62
0.268
0.268

Volume=0.005m3
heights(m)

0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06

heights(m)=Htotal-h

0.218
0.184
0.138
0.095
0.05
0.004

h(total)m

0.268
0.268
0.268
0.268
0.268
0.268

Table (4): Calaculations for the third readings in convergent section

0.3

Height(m) Vs heads &total heads

0.25

Height(m)

0.2
heights(m)=Htotal-h

0.15

h(total)m
Poly. (heights(m)=Htotal-h)

0.1

Linear (h(total)m)
y = -10x2 - 3.6286x + 0.257
R = 0.9994

0.05

0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

Height(m)

Figure7: Height Vs Heads and total head for the third readings

Tubes
a
b
c
d
e
f

Volume=0.005m3
velocity(m/s)
P(pa)
constant htotal
1.414707297 1498.302
0.255 0.255
1.25909222 1706.343
0.255 0.255
1.107931348 1885.244
0.255 0.255
0.920075777 2075.73
0.255 0.255
0.664738924 2278.061
0.255 0.255
0.226355473 2473.382
0.255 0.255
Volume=0.005m3

heights(m)

0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06

heights(m)=htotal-h

0.192
0.162
0.12
0.088
0.045
0.005

h(total)m

0.255
0.255
0.255
0.255
0.255
0.255

Table (5): Calculations for the fourth readings in convergent section

10

0.3

Heights(m) Vs heads &total heads

0.25

Height(m)

0.2

heights(m)=htotal-h
h(total)m

0.15

Poly.
(heights(m)=htotal-h)

0.1

Linear (h(total)m)
0.05
y = -9.6429x2 - 3.0907x + 0.2248
R = 0.9989

0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

Height(m)

Figure8: Height Vs Heads and total head for the fourth readings

Experimental total Vs Theoritical total

volume=0.001m^3

0.16
0.14
y=x
R = 1

Theoritical

0.12
0.1
0.08

htotal

0.06

Linear (htotal)

0.04
0.02
0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

Exp

Figure (9): Theoretical vs. Experimental head for convergent section

11

Experimental total Vs theoritical total

volume=0.005m^3

0.14
y=x
R = 1

0.12
Height(m)

0.1
0.08
0.06

htotal

0.04

Linear (htotal)

0.02
0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

Height(m)

Figure (10): Theoretical vs. Experimental head for convergent section

Divergent section:
Using the equations mentioned previosly, the following data in the tables were obtained:
Divergence
Vi(m3)
0

Vf(m3)
0.005

Average
0

0.005

Average
0

0.005

Average
0

0.005

Average

t(sec)

ha

hb

hc

hd

he

hf

htm

49

104

103

110

125

140

163

205

50

106

102

109

126

139

162

206

43

105

104

111

124

141

161

204

47.33

0.105

0.103

0.11

0.125

0.14

0.162

0.205

38

94

80

99

121

142

181

249

49

93

81

100

120

140

180

248

40

95

79

101

119

141

179

250

42.33

0.094

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.141

0.18

0.249

40

96

86

100

121

140

177

246

42

97

85

101

120

141

176

245

50

95

87

99

122

139

178

247

44

0.096

0.086

0.1

0.121

0.14

0.177

0.246

51

125

120

129

143

155

176

221

48

126

121

128

142

156

177

220

59

124

119

130

144

154

175

219

52.67

0.125

0.12

0.129

0.143

0.155

0.176

0.22

Table (6): Divergent section results

12

0.0001056

0.0001181

0.0001136

9.494E-05

Volume=0.005m3
velocity(m/s)
1.344968205
1.197024293
1.053315014
0.874719929
0.631970104
0.215197105

Tubes
a
b
c
d
e
f

P(pa)
constant htotal
1104.5
0.205 0.205
1292.6
0.205 0.205
1454.3
0.205 0.205
1626.4
0.205 0.205
1809.3
0.205 0.205
1985.8
0.205 0.205

Volume=0.005m3
heights(m)

heights(m)=Htotal-h

0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06

0.1
0.102
0.095
0.08
0.065
0.043

h(total)m

0.205
0.205
0.205
0.205
0.205
0.205

Table (7): Calculations for the first readings in divergent section

0.25

Height(m) Vs heads &total heads

Height(m)

0.2

heights(m)=Htotalh

0.15

h(total)m

0.1

Poly.
(heights(m)=Htotalh)

0.05

Linear (h(total)m)

y = -27.143x2 + 0.7257x +
0.0966
R = 0.9961

0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

height(m)

Figure11: Height Vs Heads and total head for the first readings

13

Volume=0.005m3
velocity(m/s)
1.503822717
1.338405115
1.177722299
0.978033307
0.706612242
0.240614086

Tubes
a
b
c
d
e
f

P(pa)
constant htotal
1309.459
0.249
0.249
1544.536
0.249
0.249
1746.685
0.249
0.249
1961.925
0.249
0.249
2190.55
0.249
0.249
2411.252
0.249
0.249

Volume=0.005m3
heights(m)

heights(m)=Htotal-h

0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06

h(total)m

0.177
0.169
0.149
0.129
0.108
0.069

0.249
0.249
0.249
0.249
0.249
0.249

Table (8): Calculations for the second readings in divergent section

0.3

Height(m) Vs heads &total heads

0.25
heights(m)=Htotal-h

height(m)

0.2

h(total)m

0.15

Poly. (heights(m)=Htotalh)

0.1
0.05

y = -28.393x2 - 0.1354x + 0.1813

R = 0.9956

Linear (h(total)m)

0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

height(m)

Figure12: Height Vs Heads and total head for the second readings

14

Volume=0.005m3
velocity(m/s)
1.446859736
1.287707952
1.133111606
0.940986591
0.679846627
0.231499916

Tubes
a
b
c
d
e
f

P(pa)
constant htotal
1364.098
0.246
0.246
1581.704
0.246
0.246
1768.829
0.246
0.246
1968.072
0.246
0.246
2179.704
0.246
0.246
2384.004
0.246
0.246

Volume=0.005m3
heights(m)

heights(m)=Htotal-h

0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06

h(total)m

0.165
0.151
0.146
0.125
0.106
0.069

0.246
0.246
0.246
0.246
0.246
0.246

Table (9): Calculations for the third readings in divergent section

0.3

Height(m) Vs heads &total heads

0.25
heights(m)=Htotal-h

height(m)

0.2

h(total)m

0.15

Poly.
(heights(m)=Htotal-h)

0.1
0.05

y = -30.536x2 + 0.3204x + 0.1621

R = 0.9898

Linear (h(total)m)

0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

Height(m)

Figure13: Height Vs Heads and total head for the third readings

15

Volume=0.005m3
velocity(m/s)
P(pa)
constant
htotal
1.208768893
1425.439
0.22
0.22
1.075806643
1577.32
0.22
0.22
0.946650203
1707.927
0.22
0.22
0.786140696
1846.991
0.22
0.22
0.567973131
1994.703
0.22
0.22
0.193404993
2137.297
0.22
0.22

Tubes
a
b
c
d
e
f

Volume=0.005m3
heights(m)

heights(m)=Htotal-h

0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06

h(total)m

0.11
0.1
0.091
0.077
0.065
0.044

0.22
0.22
0.22
0.22
0.22
0.22

Table (10): Calculations for the fourth readings in divergent section

0.25

Height(m) Vs heads &total heads

0.2

height(m)

heights(m)=Htotal-h
0.15
h(total)m
0.1

0.05

Poly.
(heights(m)=Htotal-h)
Linear (h(total)m)
y = -11.964x2 - 0.4454x + 0.1149
R = 0.9968

0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

height(m)

Figure14: Height Vs Heads and total head for the fourth readings

16

Experimental total Vs Theoritical

total
volume=0.005m^3
0.25

y=x
R = 1

Theoritical

0.2
0.15

htotal

0.1

Linear (htotal)

0.05
0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

Exp

Figure (15): Theoretical vs. Experimental head for divergent section

Discussion:
In this section, the previous tables and graphs will be discussed and compared.
The heights were recorded at a constant flow rate using the differents readings
rule. The readings were recorded three times for different volume flow rate at each
convergent section and divergent section which is shown in Table (1) and (5).
The average heights hp for the convergent section which are equals to pressure
heads are used in Tables (2) to (4), to find the total head for the three readings by first
calculating the velocity head hv. The same calculations were repeated in Tables (6) to
(8) for the divergent section.
Total theoretical head htc is compared with total experimental head htm in Table
(2,3,4) for convergent section and in Table (6,7,8) for divergent section. The total
theoretical and experimental heads are not very far from each other. That means the
total head is constant and is equal to the total head at each tap. This is true since the
pressure head increases while the velocity head decreases to remain the equality.
From the obtained results, the velocity in convergent section increases with the
diameter decreasing, while it decreases in divergent section due the increasing of the

17

section diameter. As a result, the pressure in convergent section decreases and

increases in divergent section.
The total energy of the fluid flow increases since the velocity in the convergent
section increases, while it decreases in the divergent section with time.
Bernoullis theorem is applicable in this experiment, since the water flow during
the experiment was steady and continuous and the water is an incompressible and non
viscous fluid.

Conclusion:
The objectives of this experiment were finally achieved by investigating the total
energy of a fluid flow through a passage of variable section and by investigating the
validity of Bernoullis theorem as applied to the flow of water in a tapering circular duct.
It was found that the summation of the static head and the velocity head equals
the total head which is the energy grade line. The difference between the heights of the
energy grade line and the hydraulic grade line is equal to the dynamic head. It was also
found that Bernoullis equation is valid for this experiment.
Errors that appear in the experiment are almost personal such as being not
accurate during recoding the heights. It may occur also because of difficulty in making
the water flow steady. A systematic error was a leaking in water from the apparatus.
The Bernoulli equation is one of the most frequently used and misused equations
in fluid mechanics. Its simplicity and ease of use make it very valuable tool for use in
analysis, but the same attributes also make it very tempting to misuse.
This experiment is important since it is related to important topics in our life.

18

 References:
Cengel, Yunus, and John Cimbala. Fluid Mechanics. New York: McGraw-Hill,
2006.
http://www.ceet.niu.edu/faculty/kostic/bernoulli.html

19