Head is the energy per unit weight of the fluid, while flow rate is the volume moved per unit time.

Head is the energy per unit weight of the fluid, while flow rate is the volume moved per unit time.

• A. True for both
• B. Head is energy, flow rate is energy
• C. Flow rate is energy; head is volume
• D. Head is energy per unit weight of the fluid, while flow rate is the volume moved per unit time.

Answer: (D)

Head represents energy per unit weight of the fluid, usually expressed as a height of fluid (meters). It captures the usable energy in the flow from elevation, pressure, and velocity. Flow rate is the volume of fluid moving through a cross-section per unit time (for example, cubic meters per second). These are different kinds of quantities: head is energy per weight, while flow rate is a volume per time. So describing head as energy per unit weight and flow rate as volume per time is the correct way to distinguish them. If you ever want to relate them to power, you multiply head by the weight flow rate to get hydraulic power (P = ρ g Q H).

Head represents energy per unit weight of the fluid, usually expressed as a height of fluid (meters). It captures the usable energy in the flow from elevation, pressure, and velocity. Flow rate is the volume of fluid moving through a cross-section per unit time (for example, cubic meters per second). These are different kinds of quantities: head is energy per weight, while flow rate is a volume per time. So describing head as energy per unit weight and flow rate as volume per time is the correct way to distinguish them. If you ever want to relate them to power, you multiply head by the weight flow rate to get hydraulic power (P = ρ g Q H).