Question

Turn a faucet on so that the stream of water is smooth (i.e. not on too high when the flow is turbulent). What happens to the width of the stream of water as it gets farther away from the faucet? Explain what you see using some of the fluid concepts f

Answer 1

What happens to the width of the stream of water as it gets farther away from the faucet?

We know that, the speed of stream of water from a faucet increase as it falls downward. The flow rate of stream is equal to the speed of stream times its cross-sectional area. In accordance with the equation of continuity, the flow rate must be the same at all its cross sections.

As the speed of stream increases as it falls down, its cross section must become narrower to maintain the flow rate.

Therefore, the cross section of stream becomes narrower.

The amount of water in any section of the stream which stays the same. The continuous stream from a water faucet where the water falls vertically; the width of stream can be seen to narrow as the stream falls. Since the force of gravity acts on all mass (including water), the water falls faster and faster as it drops.

According to the principle of conservation of mass, "the amount of water moving into the top of a stream at any time which must be the same amount of water leaving at the bottom of a stream".