Overview
Introduction
You will endeavor to undertake the momentous task of using the plumbing in your house/apartment/van-down-by-the-river to explore the continuity equation and to write a paper detailing your exploits.
Experiment
The goal of the experiment is to calculate the volumetric flow rate of water from a faucet, to calculate the water’s velocity at the faucet, and to use the continuity equation to calculate the water’s velocity at a given distance below the faucet. You will begin the experiment by selecting a faucet and finding a setting that produces a clear and steady stream. With this flow setting, you will measure the time it takes to fill a graduated measuring container (cup, quart, liter, gallon, etc.). The larger the container, the more accurate the results will be. You will also measure the diameter of the faucet’s opening and the diameter of the water stream at a measured distance below the opening. Calculations to be made are as follows: 1) volumetric flow rate of water in cubic feet per second (using appropriate unit conversions), 2) velocity of water at the faucet opening (using volume flow equation), and 3) velocity of water at a chosen distance below the opening (using the continuity equation).