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The pitot tube, invented by Henri Pitot in the 18th century, measures dynamic pressure to determine an aircraft’s speed. It consists of a device that sits in the fluid path and measures the stagnation pressure, which is subtracted from the static pressure to calculate the dynamic pressure. The pitot tube was originally used to measure the speed of water in a river, and was modified by Henry Darcy in the 19th century. It needs to be checked regularly and de-iced to ensure accurate readings.
A pitot tube is an instrument mounted on the wing of an airplane. It is used to determine the dynamic pressure of the airflow and, subsequently, the speed of the aircraft. The pitot tube was invented by the French hydraulic engineer Henri Pitot in the early 18th century. It was originally used to determine the speed of water in a river.
Pitot tube is used to determine the difference between static, dynamic and total pressure of a fluid. A fluid is basically a flowing liquid or gas. For example, water flowing in a river or oxygen molecules moving in the wind are considered fluids.
A typical pitot tube consists of a device that sits in the fluid path. As the fluid flows through the pipe, a pressure is created which is measured. The pipe has no outlet, so the fluid stops and its stagnation pressure is determined, which is also called the total pressure.
To calculate the speed of an aircraft, the static pressure of the fluid must also be determined. Static pressure is the pressure created by the moving fluid. This is achieved via a pitot-static tube, which consists of a second tube with holes in the sides.
Once the static pressure has been determined, it is subtracted from the stagnation pressure. This calculation provides the dynamic pressure of the fluid. With this information, the speed of the aircraft can be determined.
The pitot tube was first used by Henri Pitot to measure the speed of the Seine. He studied the flow of water at various depths. His findings seemed to disprove the notion that water flows faster at deeper depths.
In the 19th century, Henry Darcy modified the pitot tube. Darcy was a French engineer who focused his research on hydraulics. Its pitot tube design is the model currently used in most applications.
Typically, the pitot tube is attached to the wing or fuselage of the aircraft. It needs to be checked regularly to make sure it is working properly. Any malfunction can cause an incorrect airspeed reading.
One of the causes of a malfunctioning pitot is the formation of ice. Icing is a serious problem that can cause damage to aircraft instruments. Regular de-icing procedures are required to ensure that the pitot is correctly measuring the pressures associated with the airflow around the aircraft.
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