What effect does turbulence in water flow have on pressure?

Turbulence in water flow causes a chaotic mixing of the water particles and can lead to energy losses as the water moves through the system. This chaotic movement results in irregularities, including fluctuations in pressure. When the flow becomes turbulent, the energy of the flowing water is dissipated in the form of swirl and eddies instead of being used to maintain a consistent pressure.

As turbulence increases, so does the friction within the flow, which contributes to pressure drops. This principle is described by the Bernoulli equation, which indicates that increases in velocity and turbulence come with corresponding changes in pressure. Therefore, turbulence primarily reduces pressure, as the flow deviates from a smooth, streamlined pattern to a more chaotic one. In essence, the energy loss due to turbulence manifests as reduced pressure within the system.