The water supply for a city is often provided from reservoirs built on high ground. Water flows from the reservoir, through pipes, and into your home when you turn the tap on your faucet. Why is the water flow more rapid out of a faucet on the first floor of a building than in an apartment on a higher floor?

Question

Pickle

Physics

17 September, 11:33

The water supply for a city is often provided from reservoirs built on high ground. Water flows from the reservoir, through pipes, and into your home when you turn the tap on your faucet. Why is the water flow more rapid out of a faucet on the first floor of a building than in an apartment on a higher floor?

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Answers (1)

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Misael Madden · Answer 1

Because a bigger difference in height would mean a larger difference in potential energy

Explanation:

Water flowing from the reservoir to your tap is the result of the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy. The bigger the change in potential energy, the more kinetic energy it would have coming out of your tap, aka faster flow. If we compare the height difference between the 1st floor and the reservoir to the height difference between the top floor to the reservoir, the latter would have a smaller difference, therefore smaller kinetic energy. So the flow on top floor would be less rapid.