What happens when an ideal fluid flows through a narrowing horizontal pipe?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2 i.e. Speed increases, Pressure decreases.
This phenomenon is explained by the Equation of Continuity and Bernoulli’s Principle. According to the continuity equation (A1v1 = A2v2), as the cross-sectional area of a pipe narrows, the fluid's speed must increase to maintain a constant flow rate.
Bernoulli’s principle further states that for an ideal fluid in horizontal flow, an increase in velocity occurs simultaneously with a decrease in static pressure. Therefore, in the constricted section, the fluid moves faster but exerts less pressure on the pipe walls.