What is Bernoulli's principle?

Bernoulli's principle articulates the behavior of a fluid under varying conditions of flow and height, specifically emphasizing the relationship between velocity and pressure. When the speed of a fluid increases, the pressure exerted by that fluid decreases, assuming that other factors remain constant. This phenomenon can be observed in various applications, such as the lift generated on airplane wings and the functioning of carburetors in engines.

The principle is derived from the conservation of energy, which highlights that the total mechanical energy per unit volume of a flowing fluid must remain constant. As a fluid speeds up, some of its energy is converted from pressure energy to kinetic energy, thereby resulting in a drop in pressure. In practical terms, this explains how, for instance, airflow over an airplane wing creates a pressure difference, producing lift.

Understanding this principle is crucial in fields involving fluid dynamics, as it underscores the interplay between the speed of fluid flow and the associated pressure changes, leading to various engineering applications.