Indiana Science HS-PSII-3.4

ScienceGrades 9–12Physical Science

The Standard

Develop and apply Bernoulli’s principle and continuity equations to predict changes in the speed and pressure of a moving incompressible fluid.

Indiana Academic Standards for Science (2023) · Fluids

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain why water speeds up as it moves through a narrow part of a pipe. They use conservation of mass and energy to predict speed and pressure changes, including changes caused by height.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given pipe areas and an inlet speed, students calculate the speed at a second point. Given inlet pressure, they calculate the pressure change and account for any change in height.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think water slows down in a narrow pipe because it has less room. They may assume faster water always has higher pressure. They may also ignore height when comparing pressures.
How to Assess It: Show a horizontal pipe that narrows from 6 cm² to 3 cm², with water entering at 2 m/s. Ask students for the speed in the narrow section and whether its pressure is higher or lower.

Lesson moves

Hang two paper strips side by side and blow between them; have students sketch their motion and label the lower-pressure region.
Show a horizontal pipe diagram labeled 8 cm² and 4 cm²; ask students why water cannot slow down in the narrow section.
Give pairs four horizontal pipe cards with areas, inlet speed, and inlet pressure; have them calculate outlet speed and pressure.
Inspect a garden hose spray nozzle and sketch where flowing water speeds up and where its pressure drops.

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