One section of a pipe carrying water has a cross-sectional area of 16 cm²; in this section the water has flow velocity of 1.0 m/s. Another section of this pipe has a constricted cross-sectional area of 4 cm². If the flow is steady, what is the water velocity in the constricted section? A) 4.0 m/s B) 2.0 m/s C) 1.0 m/s D) 0.50 m/s E) 0.25 m/s

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principle of conservation of mass (continuity equation) for fluids states that the product of cross-sectional area and velocity is constant throughout a pipe. Therefore, if the area is reduced to a quarter (from 16 cm² to 4 cm²), the velocity must increase fourfold (from 1.0 m/s to 4.0 m/s).

One Section of a Pipe Carrying Water Has a Cross-Sectional