This article is about Bernoulli's principle and Bernoulli's equation in fluid dynamics.
For Bernoulli's
theorem in probability, see law of large numbers. For an unrelated topic in ordinary differential
equations, see Bernoulli differential equation.
A flow of air through a venturi meter. The kinetic energy increases at the expense of the fluid pressure, as
shown by the difference in height of the two columns of water.
Video of a venturi meter used in a lab experiment
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In fluid dynamics, Bernoulli's principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs
simultaneously with a decrease in static pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy.[1](Ch.3)[2](§
3.5)
The principle is named after Daniel Bernoulli who published it in his book Hydrodynamica in 1738.
[3]
Although Bernoulli deduced that pressure decreases when the flow speed increases, it
was Leonhard Euler who derived Bernoulli's equation in its usual form in 1752.[4][5] The principle is
only applicable for isentropic flows: when the effects of irreversible processes (like turbulence) and
non-adiabatic processes (e.g. heat radiation) are small and can be neglected.
Bernoulli's principle can be applied to various types of fluid flow, resulting in various forms
of Bernoulli's equation; there are different forms of Bernoulli's equation for different types of flow.
The simple form of Bernoulli's equation is valid for incompressible flows (e.g. most liquid flows
and gases moving at low Mach number). More advanced forms may be applied to compressible
flows at higher Mach numbers (see the derivations of the Bernoulli equation).
Bernoulli's principle can be derived from the principle of conservation of energy. This states that, in a
steady flow, the sum of all forms of energy in a fluid along a streamline is the same at all points on
that streamline. This requires that the sum of kinetic energy, potential energy and internal
energy remains constant.[2](§ 3.5) Thus an increase in the speed of the fluid – implying an increase in its
kinetic energy (dynamic pressure) – occurs with a simultaneous decrease in (the sum of) its potential
energy (including the static pressure) and internal energy. If the fluid is flowing out of a reservoir, the
sum of all forms of energy is the same on all streamlines because in a reservoir the energy per unit
volume (the sum of pressure and gravitational potential ρ g h) is the same everywhere.[6](Example 3.5)
Bernoulli's principle can also be derived directly from Isaac Newton's Second Law of Motion. If a
small volume of fluid is flowing horizontally from a region of high pressure to a region of low
pressure, then there is more pressure behind than in front. This gives a net force on the volume,
accelerating it along the streamline.[a][b][c]
This article is about Bernoulli's principle and Bernoulli's equation in fluid dynamics. For Bernoulli's
theorem in probability, see law of large numbers. For an unrelated topic in ordinary differential
equations, see Bernoulli differential equation.
A flow of air through a venturi meter. The kinetic energy increases at the expense of the fluid pressure, as
shown by the difference in height of the two columns of water.
Video of a venturi meter used in a lab experiment
Part of a series on
Continuum mechanics
Laws[show]
Solid mechanics[show]
Fluid mechanics[hide]
Fluids
Statics · Dynamics
Archimedes' principle · Bernoulli's
principle
Navier–Stokes equations
Poiseuille equation · Pascal's law
Viscosity
(Newtonian · non-Newtonian)
Buoyancy · Mixing · Pressure
Liquids
Surface tension
Capillary action
Gases
Atmosphere
Boyle's law
Charles's law
Gay-Lussac's law
Combined gas law
Plasma
Rheology[show]
Scientists[show]
v
t
e
In fluid dynamics, Bernoulli's principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs
simultaneously with a decrease in static pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy.[1](Ch.3)[2](§
3.5)
The principle is named after Daniel Bernoulli who published it in his book Hydrodynamica in 1738.
[3]
Although Bernoulli deduced that pressure decreases when the flow speed increases, it
was Leonhard Euler who derived Bernoulli's equation in its usual form in 1752.[4][5] The principle is
only applicable for isentropic flows: when the effects of irreversible processes (like turbulence) and
non-adiabatic processes (e.g. heat radiation) are small and can be neglected.
Bernoulli's principle can be applied to various types of fluid flow, resulting in various forms
of Bernoulli's equation; there are different forms of Bernoulli's equation for different types of flow.
The simple form of Bernoulli's equation is valid for incompressible flows (e.g. most liquid flows
and gases moving at low Mach number). More advanced forms may be applied to compressible
flows at higher Mach numbers (see the derivations of the Bernoulli equation).
Bernoulli's principle can be derived from the principle of conservation of energy. This states that, in a
steady flow, the sum of all forms of energy in a fluid along a streamline is the same at all points on
that streamline. This requires that the sum of kinetic energy, potential energy and internal
energy remains constant.[2](§ 3.5) Thus an increase in the speed of the fluid – implying an increase in its
kinetic energy (dynamic pressure) – occurs with a simultaneous decrease in (the sum of) its potential
energy (including the static pressure) and internal energy. If the fluid is flowing out of a reservoir, the
sum of all forms of energy is the same on all streamlines because in a reservoir the energy per unit
volume (the sum of pressure and gravitational potential ρ g h) is the same everywhere.[6](Example 3.5)
Bernoulli's principle can also be derived directly from Isaac Newton's Second Law of Motion. If a
small volume of fluid is flowing horizontally from a region of high pressure to a region of low
pressure, then there is more pressure behind than in front. This gives a net force on the volume,
accelerating it along the streamline.[a][b][c]
This article is about Bernoulli's principle and Bernoulli's equation in fluid dynamics. For Bernoulli's
theorem in probability, see law of large numbers. For an unrelated topic in ordinary differential
equations, see Bernoulli differential equation.
A flow of air through a venturi meter. The kinetic energy increases at the expense of the fluid pressure, as
shown by the difference in height of the two columns of water.
Video of a venturi meter used in a lab experiment
Part of a series on
Continuum mechanics
Laws[show]
Solid mechanics[show]
Fluid mechanics[hide]
Fluids
Statics · Dynamics
Archimedes' principle · Bernoulli's
principle
Navier–Stokes equations
Poiseuille equation · Pascal's law
Viscosity
(Newtonian · non-Newtonian)
Buoyancy · Mixing · Pressure
Liquids
Surface tension
Capillary action
Gases
Atmosphere
Boyle's law
Charles's law
Gay-Lussac's law
Combined gas law
Plasma
Rheology[show]
Scientists[show]
v
t
e
In fluid dynamics, Bernoulli's principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs
simultaneously with a decrease in static pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy.[1](Ch.3)[2](§
3.5)
The principle is named after Daniel Bernoulli who published it in his book Hydrodynamica in 1738.
[3]
Although Bernoulli deduced that pressure decreases when the flow speed increases, it
was Leonhard Euler who derived Bernoulli's equation in its usual form in 1752.[4][5] The principle is
only applicable for isentropic flows: when the effects of irreversible processes (like turbulence) and
non-adiabatic processes (e.g. heat radiation) are small and can be neglected.
Bernoulli's principle can be applied to various types of fluid flow, resulting in various forms
of Bernoulli's equation; there are different forms of Bernoulli's equation for different types of flow.
The simple form of Bernoulli's equation is valid for incompressible flows (e.g. most liquid flows
and gases moving at low Mach number). More advanced forms may be applied to compressible
flows at higher Mach numbers (see the derivations of the Bernoulli equation).
Bernoulli's principle can be derived from the principle of conservation of energy. This states that, in a
steady flow, the sum of all forms of energy in a fluid along a streamline is the same at all points on
that streamline. This requires that the sum of kinetic energy, potential energy and internal
energy remains constant.[2](§ 3.5) Thus an increase in the speed of the fluid – implying an increase in its
kinetic energy (dynamic pressure) – occurs with a simultaneous decrease in (the sum of) its potential
energy (including the static pressure) and internal energy. If the fluid is flowing out of a reservoir, the
sum of all forms of energy is the same on all streamlines because in a reservoir the energy per unit
volume (the sum of pressure and gravitational potential ρ g h) is the same everywhere.[6](Example 3.5)
Bernoulli's principle can also be derived directly from Isaac Newton's Second Law of Motion. If a
small volume of fluid is flowing horizontally from a region of high pressure to a region of low
pressure, then there is more pressure behind than in front. This gives a net force on the volume,
accelerating it along the streamline.[a][b][c]
