equation of continuity

equation of continuity

[i′kwā·zhən əv ‚känt·ən′ü·əd·ē]

(physics)

continuity equation

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

equation of continuity

The equation of continuity states that (a) air mass flow is constant, as mass can neither be created nor destroyed, and (b) the product of a cross-sectional area (A), velocity (V), and density (ρ) is constant (K), or AVρ = K. It assumes that because pressure changes are small, they have little effect on density and, therefore, AV= K or V= K/A. Hence, a reduced cross section gives a greater velocity.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved