ABSTRACT

The experiment was done on a hydraulic bench. Wherein the objective of the experiment was
to compute for the coefficient of velocity, discharge and contraction. Therefore, we measure
for the height of the water (H), the height of the trajectory of the water (y), the distance
travelled by the trajectory (x), the height of the second tank wherein water flows (Ht ), and
the time it takes to fill a certain volume of the tank (t). Basically, Bernoullis theorem will
be used to compute for the theoretical and experimental values of the mentioned coefficients.
INTRODUCTION
The relationship between the velocity and pressure exerted by a moving liquid is described by
the Bernoullis rinciple: as the velocity of a fluid increases, the pressure exerted by that fluid
decreases. Using this concept, the experiment investigates the effect on a circular orifice.
For this experiment, the diameter of the orifice was 14cm. This would allow us to measure
empirical data and to test them with their theoretical counterpart.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
The theory of Discharge from an Orifice was first discovered by a roman engineer named
Frontinus. He was in charge of the water supply under augustus. But his data and adjustements were purely empirical. Not until Torricelli, in 1643, showed that the velocity of the
efflux was given by the equation:
p
(1)
Vi = 2gh
The velocity is still computed from the Bernoullis princeple:
h+

p
V2
+
g
2

which we assume constant along a streamline in irrotational flow (conservation of energy).

For the experiment, we consider a case of zero initial velocity, as at the surface of a liquid in a
container with an orifice in the side. The streamline is assumed to start at the surface, a distance (H) above the orifice. The streamline then leads to the orifice and out into the jet. At
this point, we assume that the velocity is given by Torricellis Theorem which is equation (1).
A jet is defined when it is surrounded by another fluid of smaller density. In this case, it would
be air, therefore it is called a free jet. By definition, the only force acting upon it would be
gravity.
A cross section of a circular orifice of diameter Do is shown. We assume a small thickness of the wall in comparison the length of
the diameter. In the figure, we see that the
cross section of the jet decreases slightly until the pressure is equalized over the crosssection, and the velocity prolie is nearly rectangular. This minimum area is called the
vena contracta. Beyond this point, the fricFigure 1: Discharge from an Orifice
tion with air slows it down, and the cross
1

section increases perforce, This divergence is relatively small thus producing a cylindrical jet
with a constant velocity. The area A of the vena contracta is smaller than the area Ao of
the orifice. Therefore for an ideal circular orifice, the governing equation is:

A
= Cc =
Ao
( + 2)

(2)

where Cc is called the coefficient of contraction.

The average velocity V is defined to be constant over the vena contracta:
Q=VA

(3)

V = Cv V i

(4)

Then we are able to write:

where Vi is the coefficient of velocity.
Combining all the equations, we are able to use the ideal velocity and orifice area in calculating the discharge.
Q = V A = Cv Vi Cc Ao = Cd Ao Vi
(5)
EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
For the experiment, we use a hydraulic bench. The set-up comprises of a tank above ,which

Figure 2: Experimental Set-up

is the first tank to be filled and wherein the orifice is placed on the side of the tank, and a
tank below, to measure for the time it takes to fill a certain volume. Our fluid, H2 O, starts
to flow into the first tank.
As discussed earlier, the streamline then flows out into the jet and into a basin. The water
then flows back to the source. When the water level has reached a steady state, the whole
system is in steady flow condition which allows us are assume that the velocity at a given
point in the fluid would not vary with time.
Adjusting the valve at the bottom of the set-up allows water to flow into the second tank.

This second tank allows us to measure the water level ht over a the duration of t. This allows
us to compute for the actual discharge of the system, which is governed by this equation:
Qactual =

V olume
Ddeltatime

(6)

wherein the change in Volume of the tank is taken by the height difference multiplied by the
area of the second tank. The area of the second tank was measured to be 0.084594m2 .
V = (ht ho )XAtank

Figure 3: Typical Hydraulic Bench

TEST RESULTS
From the experimental set-up, the following data was measured.
TRIALS
1
2
3
4
5

Hw
0.216
0.151
0.076
0.131
0.022

Ht
0.02
0.05
0.03
0.06
0.02

y
x
t
0.218 0.34 8
0.218 0.28 19
0.218 0.02 19
0.218 0.265 28
0.218 0.09 19

Table 1: Raw data gathered

(7)

To compute for the Velocity, we first compute for the time:

1 2
gt
2
m
0.218m = 9.81( 2 )t2
s
t = 0.2108185107s
y =

(8)
(9)
(10)

After the time is computed, we input this value into the ff. equation:
x = Vx t
0.34m = Vx (0.2108185107s)
m
Vx = 1.612761607
s

(11)
(12)
(13)

This is now considered as our actual velocity for the system. On the other hand our theoretical velocity is computed by the ff. equation:
p
2gH
(14)
Vtheoretical =
r
m
(15)
Vtheoretical =
2(9.81 2 )(0.0216m)
s
m
Vtheoretical = 2.058620898
(16)
s
The coefficient of velocity is therefore computed:
1.612761607 ms
2.058620898 ms
Cv = 0.7834184569

Cv =

(17)
(18)

To compute for the discharge:

0.02m(0.084594m2 )
8s
m3
= 2.11485X104
s

Qactual =

(19)

Qactual

(20)

For the theoretical discharge:

Qtheoretical = V A
Qtheoretical
Qtheoretical

(21)

m
= (1.612761607 )X(0.015393804m2 )
s
m3
= 0.02482653608
s

The coefficient of discharge is thus computed as:

3

Cd =

2.11485x104 ms

3
0.02482653608 ms

= 8.518506139X103

(22)
(23)

The coefficient of contraction is obstained by:

Cd = (Cc )X(Cv )
8.518506139X103
Cc =
0.7834184569
Cc = 0.01087350553
After repeating the computations for each trial, we come up with the following results:
TRIAL
1
2
3
4
5

Cv
0.783418457
0.771632138
0.776897903
0.784063028
0.649788347

Cd
0.001214405
0.001528898
0.001293038
0.00133662
0.001602196

Cc
0.001550136
0.001981382
0.001664361
0.001704736
0.002465719

Table 2: Coefficients for the five trials

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
As you can see from the table above, the coefficients computed have a very high relative precision. The small error may have been affected by factors such as human error, considering
it as a free jet, not taking into account the viscousity of the fluid, and assuming that the
fluid is already in steady flow. Aside from these theoretical errors, there might have been
some errors due to the mechanical aspect of the experiment. Wherein the hydaulic bench
was not leveled and the second tanks plug had a leak. Further study could be recommended
to include the theoretical errors to acquire a more accurate and precise data for a specific
circular orifice.
REFERENCES
R. L. Daugherty and J. B. Franzini, Fluid Mechanics, 6th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill,
1965). pp. 338-349.