An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A → device used to → measure the → velocity of a flowing → fluid. The Pitot tube is used on → aircrafts to determine their → speed. It is also used to meaure water speed of a boat as well as liquid, air, and gas velocities in industrial applications. It is a small tube that has two holes on it. The front hole is placed in the airstream to measure the → stagnation pressure. The side hole measures the → static pressure. The difference between these pressures gives the → dynamic pressure, which can be used to calculate airspeed. See also the → Bernoulli equation.

See also: Named after the French inventor Henri Pitot (1695-1771), a hyraulic engineer; → tube.