A venturi operates based on which principle to cause pressure drops?

The correct answer is based on Bernoulli's principle, which explains the behavior of fluid flow through a constriction, such as a venturi. According to Bernoulli's principle, an increase in the velocity of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure. This relationship is vital in the function of a venturi, where a fluid passes through a narrowing in the pipe, causing its velocity to increase as it enters the constriction. The result is a drop in static pressure, enabling various applications such as fluid transfer and mixing.

Understanding this principle helps to grasp how the design of a venturi can regulate fluid dynamics efficiently, leading to its implementation in numerous pneumatic and hydraulic systems. The other options, while related to different physical laws, do not facilitate the explanation of why pressure drops occur specifically in fluid flow through a venturi.