Faucet Flow Rate
Students determine the flow rate of faucets.Copyright https://openclipart.org/detail/169893/water-by-scyg
Students conduct experiments to determine the flow rate of faucets by timing how long it takes to fill gallon jugs. They do this for three different faucet flow levels (quarter blast, half blast, full blast), averaging three trials for each level. They convert their results from gallons per second (gps) to cubic feet per second (cfs).
Civil engineers design the systems that bring water from natural sources, such as rivers, lakes, glaciers, watersheds or aquifers, to the towns and cities where that water is needed. Civil engineers also manage natural systems for purposes of flood control and drought mitigation. Students who complete this activity gain a greater understanding for what civil engineers who design water systems do and the skills they use in their careers.
After completing this activity, students should be able to:
- Define flow rate.
- Conduct an experiment to determine the flow rate of a faucet.
- Calculate flow rates from experimental data.
- Convert flow rates from gps to cfs units.