The Venturi meter Q. A venturi meter is used to measure flow speed in a pipe.

Derive an expression for the flow speed v1 in terms of A1, A2, and h, the difference in the vertical level between the two vertical tubes.

P1 A1 P2 v1 A2 v2

(see next page for answer)

Answer: This problem relies on your knowledge of (at least) three important MCAT concepts! Continuity of flow equation, Bernoullis principle, and gauge pressure. First, realize that v1 and v2 can be related by the continuity equation: v2 = v1 x A1/A2 Then, since the vectors v1 and v2 are at the same height (we are going to assume that this venturi meter is small enough that gravity is negligible), then: P1 + pv12 = P2 + pv22 Finally, if the water in the vertical tubes are static, then at the bottom of the tube, the pressure acting upwards has to be balanced by the gauge pressure of the water in the tube acting downwards: P1 = - pgh1 and P2 = -pgh2 Now we have enough info to solve! 1 p (v 2 2 v12 ) 2 1 pgh1 + pgh 2 = p (v 2 2 v12 ) 2 1 gh = (v 2 2 v12 ) 2 P1 P2 = 1 A gh = ( 1 v1 v12 ) A 2 2 A 1 gh = v12 ( 1 1) A 2 2 2 gh A1 A 1 2 v1 =
2 2 2

= v12

2 gh A1 1 A 2
2

And, in this way, it is possible to determine flow speed at a single point, without knowing anything else but the dimensions of the venturi tube and gravity (constant) and by measuring the height of the two waters. These are still used frequently today to measure flow speed in real time.