Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Bernoulli's theorem

 
Sci-Tech Dictionary: Bernoulli theorem
(ber′nü·lē ′thir·əm)

(fluid mechanics) An expression of the conservation of energy in the steady flow of an incompressible, inviscid fluid; it states that the quantity (p/ρ) + gz + (v2/2) is constant along any streamline, where p is the fluid pressure, v is the fluid velocity, ρ is the mass density of the fluid, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and z is the vertical height. Also known as Bernoulli equation; Bernoulli law.
(statistics) law of large numbers


Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
Sci-Tech Encyclopedia: Bernoulli's theorem
Top

An idealized algebraic relation between pressure, velocity, and elevation for flow of an inviscid fluid. Its most commonly used form is for steady flow of an incompressible fluid, and is given by the equation below, where p is {p \over \rho} + {V^2 \over 2} + {gz} = {\rm constant} pressure, ρ is fluid density (assumed constant), V is flow velocity, g is the acceleration of gravity, and z is the elevation of the fluid particle. The relation applies along any particular streamline of the flow. The constant may vary across streamlines unless it can be further shown that the fluid has zero local angular velocity.

The above equation may be extended to steady compressible flow (where changes in ρ are important) by adding the internal energy per unit mass, e, to the left-hand side. See also Compressible flow.

The equation is limited to inviscid flows with no heat transfer, shaft work, or shear work. Although no real fluid truly meets these conditions, the relation is quite accurate in free-flow or “core” regions away from solid boundaries or wavy interfaces, especially for gases and light liquids. Thus Bernoulli's theorem is commonly used to analyze flow outside the boundary layer, flow in supersonic nozzles, flow over airfoils, and many other practical problems. See also Aerodynamics; Boundary-layer flow.


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Sci-Tech Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Sci-Tech Encyclopedia. McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more