jakester17
Apr 30, 2009, 04:07 PM
We just started flow rate in our physics class and there was a question that said the velocity is 0.5m/s and the interior diameter is 0.03m. What is the flow rate? Any help would be great
FlyYakker
Apr 30, 2009, 06:27 PM
You have a diameter and a length.  Go figure
Perito
May 1, 2009, 04:31 AM
The flow rate is volume / time.  You know the velocity in meters per second
 
Velocity = \frac {meters}{sec}
 
The flow rate is 
 
Flow Rate = \frac {meters^3}{sec}
 
So, to get from meters/sec to meters^3/sec, you multiply by meters^2.  What value would have dimensions of meters^2?  Why, the internal area of the pipe!  (The area of a cross-section of the pipe).
 
You know the diameter of the pipe so you can easily calculate the internal radius of the pipe.
 
d = 2 r
 
Once you know the radius, you can calculate the cross-sectional area of the pipe:
 
A=\pi r^2