Bernoulli Equation Problem Set

1. Air flows steadily along a streamline from point (1) to point (2) with negligible viscous
effects. The following conditions are measured: At point (1) z 1 = 2 m and p1 =0 kPa; at
point (2) z 2 = 10 m and p2 = 20 N /m2 , and V 2 = 0 . Determine the velocity at point
(1).

Solution

p1 + 12 ρV 21 + γz 1 = p2 + 12 ρV 22 + γz 2

With p1 = 0 and V 2 = 0 ;

1
2
ρV 21 + γz 1 = p2 + γz 2

Recall γ = ρg ;

kg
And for air,(at sea level and at 15 °C) ρ = 2.225 m3
(see attached chart)

1
2 (1.23 ) V
kg
m3
2
1 ( )
= 20 mN2 + 1.23 mkg3 9.81 sm2 (10 m − 2 m)

Or

V 21 = 2(20) N .m
1.23 kg ( )
+ 2 9.81 sm2 (8 m) = 189 m2
s2

N B) N .m
=
( )m = m
kg.m
s2 2
kg kg s2

Thus,

m
V 1 = 13.7 sec
Question 2

dp
What pressure gradient along the streamline, ds
, is required to accelerate water in a horizontal
m
pipe at a rate of 15 s2

Solution

∂p ∂V
∂s
=− γ sin θ − ρV ∂s

∂V m
Where θ = 0 and V ∂s
= as = 15 s2

Thus;

( mN2 )
∂p
∂s
=− ρas =− 1000 mkg3 15 ( m
s2 ) =− 15000 m

Or

∂p k Pa
∂s
= 15 m

Question 3

An incompressible fluid with density ρ flows steadily past the object shown in the figure below.
The fluid velocity along the horizontal dividing streamline, (− ∞≤x≤ − a) , is found to be,
a2
V = V 0 (1 − x2 ) , where a is the radius of the cylinder and V 0 is the upstream velocity.

a) Determine the pressure gradient along the streamline

b) If the upstream pressure is p0 , integrate the pressure gradient to obtain the pressure p (x)
for − ∞≤x≤ − a .
c) Show from the result of part b) that the pressure at the stagnation point (x =− a) is
ρV 02
p0 + 2
, as expected from the Bernoulli equation.
Solution

a)

∂p ∂V
∂s
=− γ sin θ − ρV ∂s

But

θ=0

since x is in the direction of the streamline;

∂V ∂V ∂x ∂V
∂s
= ∂x ∂s
= ∂x

But

a2
V = V 0 (1 − x2 )

Therefore;

2
∂V
∂x
= V 0 [− a2 ] ( −2
x3 )
= V 0 2ax3

Thus,

2
∂p ∂V −2ρa2 V 02[1−( ax ) ]
∂s
=− ρ V ∂x
= x3

b) Integral of the pressure gradient;

p x
dp
∫ dp = ∫ dx
dx
p0 x=−∞

Or

x
∫ [1 − ( ax ) ] dxx
2
p − p0 =− 2ρa2 V 20 3
−∞

x
2
2
=− 2ρa V 0 ∫ [x−3 − a2 x−5 ] dx
−∞

Thus,

p = p0 + ρV 20 [( a 2
x ) − 1 a 4
( )
2 x ] f or − ∞≤x≤ − a
c) For x =− a , from part b);

[
p|x=−a = p0 + ρV 20 (− 1)2 − 12 (− 1)4 = p0 + 12 ρV 20]
NB) Bernoulli equation from point (1) where V 1 = V 0 , p1 = p0 and z 1 = z 0 gives

p1 + 12 ρV 21 + γz 1 = p2 + 12 ρV 22 + γz 2

or

p2 = p0 + 12 ρV 20