Segment V3.5: Flow From a Tank

(Related to Textbook Section 3.6.1 - Free Jets)

According to the Bernoulli equation, the velocity of a fluid flowing through a hole in the side of an open tank or reservoir is proportional to the square root of the depth of fluid above the hole.

The velocity of a jet of water from an open pop bottle containing four holes is clearly related to the depth of water above the hole. The greater the depth, the higher the velocity. Similar behavior can be seen as water flows at a very high velocity from the reservoir behind Glenn Canyon dam in Colorado. (Video courtesy of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.)