The Fluid Pressure and Flow Phet lab offers 3 different simulations, with each

simulation demonstrating properties of fluid pressure and flow. The first

simulation features water tanks of three different shapes. 2 are just tanks,
while the third tank simulates a hydraulic system. In each tank, the pressure
in the pool changes depending on the depth of the liquid. There is more
pressure deeper in the pool of liquid than there is at the shallow parts at the
top, reflecting P = pgh. Pressure increases when the density of the liquid is
turned up and is decreased if the liquid is changed to be lense dense, also
reflecting P = pgh. When the atmosphere is turned "off," the pressure of the
water in the tank is drastically decreased compared to when it is "on." This is
because in the pool, pressure is exerted by both the atmosphere and the
water. Turning off the atmosphere takes away one source of pressure.

The third tank simulates a hydraulic piston, and demonstrates Pascal's

Principle. The Principle states that "A change in pressure applied to an
enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished to all portions of the fluid and to
the walls of its container." P1 = P2. Since P = F/A, applying a force on a
smaller area results in a larger force from a larger area. However, since Work
= FD, energy is conserved as the smaller area moves a larger distance to
conserve energy. This is all demonstrated when the weights are dropped onto
the smaller opening of the tank. The surface of the water in the smaller
opening drops much further than the surface of the larger area rises.

The second simluation demonstrates laminar fluid flow. Widening the tube will
slow down the speed of the fluid, while making the tube smaller increases the
speed of the fluid. This is because the flow rate is conserved. Q1 = Q2, and Q
= Area times velocity. Like in the simulations before, a wider tube produces
more pressure at the bottom of the tube than a thin one. When taking the
friction of the tube into account, the velocity of the water rubbing against the
tube is slowed down. The increase in friction also causes a slight increase in
pressure. This is because the fluid viscosity has increased. Fluid viscosity is
the friction between the fluid itself and its surroundings, and it has an effect
on fluid pressure because F= vA/L, and pressure is F/A.

Poiseulle's Law states that the greater the pressure differential between two
points, the greater the flow rate. This is reflected in the pressure gauges in
the simulation when adjusting the flow rates. The pressure lowers when the
velocity increases to reflect Bernouli's Equation. P + 1/2 pv^2 + pgh is
constant. The density, depth or the strength of gravity are not changed,
therefore pressure must be lowered to comply with Bernouli's Equation.

The third and final Phet simulation involves a water tower with a moveable,
attached hose. The hose demonstrates Bernouli's Equation. If the water tower
is not filled to match leakage as the hose runs, the water coming out of the
hose will decrease in velocity, demonstrating that P + 1/2 pv^2 + pgh is
constant.