A Simple Sharp-Edged Orifice Demonstration *

A simple and inexpensive sharp-edged orifice demonstration is described for use in the laboratory or Fluid Mechanics classroom. A steady state experiment is described that yields a discharge coefficient, C_D, of 0.64, almost identical to sharp-edged orifice coefficients reported in the literature. A time-dependent tank draining experiment employed C_D = 0.64 to yield model results that were within 3% of the experimental data obtained in draining water from the reservoir through the orifice.