08/05/2013 Use Bernoulli's Equation to Calculate Pressure Difference between Two Points - For Dummies

Adve rtise m e nt

Use Bernoulli's Equation to Calculate Pressure

Difference between Two Points
By Steven Holzner from Physics I For Dummies, 2nd Edition
Because Bernoullis equation relates pressure, fluid speed, and height, you can use this
important physics equation to find the difference in fluid pressure between two points. All you
need to know is the fluids speed and height at those two points.
Bernoullis equation relates a moving fluids pressure, density, speed, and height from Point 1
to Point 2 in this way:

Here are what the variables stand for in this equation (where the subscripts indicate whether
youre talking about Point 1 or Point 2):

The equation assumes that youre working with the steady flow of an incompressible,
irrotational, nonviscous fluid.
One thing you can take immediately from this equation is whats called Bernoullis
principle, which says that increasing a fluids speed can lead to a decrease in
pressure.
Together, the equation of continuity

and Bernoullis equation allow you to relate the pressure in pipes to their changes in diameter.
You often use the equation of continuity, which tells you that a particular volume of a liquid flows
at a constant mass flow rate, to find the speeds you use in Bernoullis equation, which relates
speed to pressure.
Heres an example: The operating room is hushed as youre ushered into it. On the operating
table lies a very important person who has an aneurism in the aorta, the principal artery leading
from the heart. An aneurysm is an enlargement in a blood vessel where the walls have
weakened.

www.dummies.com/how-to/content/use-bernoullis-equation-to-calculate-pressure-diff.html 1/3
08/05/2013 Use Bernoulli's Equation to Calculate Pressure Difference between Two Points - For Dummies

The doctors tell you, The cross-sectional area of the aneurysm is 2.0A, where A is the cross-
sectional area of the normal aorta. We want to operate, but first we need to know how much
higher the pressure is in the aneurysm before we cut into it.
Hmm, you think. You happen to know that the normal speed of blood through a persons aorta is
0.40 meters/second, and that the density of blood is 1,060 kg/m3. But will that be enough
information?
Youd like to use Bernoullis equation here because it relates pressure and velocity:

You can simplify Bernoullis equation because the patient is lying flat on the operating table,
which means that y1 = y2, so Bernoullis equation becomes the following:

You want to know how much more pressure is in the aneurysm than in the normal aorta, so
youre looking for P2 P1. Rearrange the equation:

Thats looking better; you already know

and v1 (the speed of blood in a normal persons aorta). But whats v2, the speed of blood inside
the aneurysm, equal to? You think hard and you have an inspiration: The equation of
continuity can come to the rescue because it relates speeds to cross-sectional areas:

Because the density of blood is the same at Point 1 and Point 2, in the normal aorta and inside
the aneurysm, you can divide out the density to get:
A1v1 = A2v2

Solving for v2 gives you the following:

Now plug in the numbers. Because the doctors told you A2 = 2.0A1 and you know that v1 = 0.4
m/s, you get

So now youre ready to work with the equation you derived:

You can factor out both 1/2 and

the density, on the right side of the equation:

www.dummies.com/how-to/content/use-bernoullis-equation-to-calculate-pressure-diff.html 2/3
08/05/2013 Use Bernoulli's Equation to Calculate Pressure Difference between Two Points - For Dummies

Plugging in the numbers gives you the following:

You tell the doctors that the pressure is 64 pascals higher in the aneurysm than in the normal
aorta.
Hows that? ask the doctors. Give that to us in units we can understand.
The pressure is about 0.01 pounds per square inch higher in the aneurysm.
Hows that? Thats nothing, say the doctors. Well operate immediately you just saved a
very important persons life!
All in a days work for a physicist.

Dummies Recommends From Around the Web

How to Calculate Force Based on See 10 stunning Nokia Lumia 920 low
Pressure light photos (Nokia Conversations)
The Different Types of Fluid Flow Three Quick Tips to Recharge Your
Training with Your Puppy's Age in Mind Energy at Work (Outsource Smart)

8 Debt Collection Mistakes Not to Make Best New Marketing Idea Ever,
Guaranteed and Free (Small Business
How to Solve Percent Problems Marketing Consultant)
From Myths to Facts: the Whole Truth
About Yogurt (Food for Thought)
Southwest Airlines Offers New Boarding
Option (Global Traveler Magazine)
iPhone 5S photos leaked, reveals rear
housing (uSwitch)
Recommended by

Copyright 2013 & Trademark by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

www.dummies.com/how-to/content/use-bernoullis-equation-to-calculate-pressure-diff.html 3/3