Enter the velocity and the stream function into the calculator to determine the potential flow. This calculator can also evaluate any of the variables given the others are known.
Potential Flow Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the potential flow.
Phi = V * Psi
Variables:
- (Phi) is the potential flow (m^2/s)
- V is the velocity (m/s)
- (Psi) is the stream function (m^2/s)
To calculate the potential flow, multiply the velocity by the stream function.
What is Potential Flow?
Potential flow refers to the flow of an incompressible fluid with no viscosity in a region where the velocity field can be described as the gradient of a scalar function called the velocity potential. In potential flow theory, the flow is irrotational and the velocity potential satisfies Laplace’s equation. This concept is used in various fields of engineering and physics to simplify the analysis of fluid motion, especially when the effects of viscosity are negligible.
How to Calculate Potential Flow?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Potential Flow.
- First, determine the velocity (V) in meters per second.
- Next, determine the stream function ((Psi)) in square meters per second.
- Next, gather the formula from above = (Phi = V * Psi).
- Finally, calculate the Potential Flow ((Phi)) in square meters per second.
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
velocity (V) = 5 m/s
stream function ((Psi)) = 2 m^2/s
