Indiana Science HS-PSII-3.3
The Standard
Develop and apply the principle of constant volume flow rate to determine the relationship between cross-sectional area of a pipe and the velocity of an incompressible fluid flowing through a pipe.
Indiana Academic Standards for Science (2023) · Fluids
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students compare the water passing through wide and narrow parts of a pipe in the same amount of time. They use area times speed to calculate how fast the water moves in each part.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can predict that water moving at 1 m/s through a 6 cm² section will move at 3 m/s through a 2 cm² section. They can explain that the same volume passes each section every second.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think less water passes through the narrow section each second. Some compare pipe diameters instead of areas, or think water piles up where the pipe narrows.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Water moves at 2 m/s through a 6 cm² section, then enters a 3 cm² section. Find its new speed and explain your answer.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Connect water-filled syringes of different widths with tubing, push the wide plunger 1 cm, and measure how far the narrow plunger moves.
Ask: A pipe narrows from 4 cm² to 2 cm². Why does the water speed double?
Give pairs cards showing areas of 2, 3, 4, and 6 cm² and speeds of 6, 4, 3, and 2 cm/s to match.
Sketch a garden hose nozzle and calculate water speed at areas of 4 cm² and 1 cm² when 8 cm³ passes each second.
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Printable HS-PSII-3.3 Worksheet
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