AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Flashcards: Fluids and Conservation Laws
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What fundamental conservation law is represented by the continuity equation?
The continuity equation represents the conservation of mass for an incompressible fluid flowing through a cross-sectional area.
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What fundamental conservation law is represented by the continuity equation?
The continuity equation represents the conservation of mass for an incompressible fluid flowing through a cross-sectional area.
How do pressure, height, and speed relate to one another in Bernoulli's equation?
Bernoulli's equation shows that the sum of pressure, potential energy per unit volume ($\rho g y$), and kinetic energy per unit volume ($\frac{1}{2} \rho v^2$) is constant between two points in a fluid.
What is the primary cause for the flow of a fluid between two locations within the fluid-Earth system?
The flow of a fluid is the result of a difference in total mechanical energy between two locations within the fluid-Earth system.
What two conservation laws, described by two key equations, govern the flow of an ideal, incompressible fluid?
The flow is governed by the conservation of mass (described by the continuity equation) and the conservation of mechanical energy (described by Bernoulli's equation).
If an incompressible fluid flows from a wide pipe into a narrow one, how does its speed change according to the principle of mass conservation?
The fluid's speed must increase in the narrow section to ensure the mass flow rate remains constant, as described by the continuity equation.
What is Bernoulli's equation and what does it describe?
Bernoulli’s equation, $P_1 + \rho g y_1 + \frac{1}{2} \rho v_1^2 = P_2 + \rho g y_2 + \frac{1}{2} \rho v_2^2$, describes the conservation of mechanical energy in fluid flow.
From which fundamental principle of conservation can Torricelli's theorem be derived?
Torricelli's theorem can be derived from the conservation of energy principles, as it is a special case of Bernoulli's equation.
What is the continuity equation for incompressible fluid flow?
The continuity equation is $A_1 v_1 = A_2 v_2$, which describes the conservation of mass flow rate in incompressible fluids.
What is Torricelli's theorem?
Torricelli’s theorem, $v = \sqrt{2gh}$, relates the speed of a fluid exiting an opening to the difference in height between the opening and the top surface of the fluid.
A large, open water tank has a small hole 5 meters below the water surface. Using the relevant theorem, how would you set up the calculation for the speed of the water exiting the hole?
Using Torricelli's theorem, the speed (v) is calculated as $v = \sqrt{2gh}$, where g is the acceleration due to gravity and h is 5 meters.