PERC 2013 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Apparent Paradox Between Bernoulli's and Hagen-Poiseuille's Principles |
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| Abstract: | Our research focuses on developing multi-representational tools to assist student understanding of fluids. The research objective is to reconcile the counterintuitive result students have when applying the Bernoulli Principle to a constricted blood vessel. Students find the pressure decrease with increasing fluid speed to be at odds with their understanding of the resulting pressure increase of a blocked artery. In order to evaluate the apparent paradox generated by Bernoulli's Principle and Hagen-Poiseuille's Principle, students were asked to explain the following three fluid dynamics experiments diagrammatically, graphically, mathematically, and verbally: 1. A simulated blood vessel constriction. 2. Flow through a Venturi apparatus and 3. A free-fall microgravity simulation. Pairs of students were interviewed before and after coverage of the content in class. In the post-interview they were given an open-ended question to answer regarding why blood pressure rises when blood vessels are blocked. Preliminary results indicate that hands-on exposure to the tactile demonstrations enables qualitative explanations without relying on mathematical tools. |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Elizabeth Whitmore University of New England 11 Hills Beach Road Biddeford, ME 04005 Phone: 207-749-7913 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
James Vesenka |
