What is pressure measured in terms of the height of water referred to as?

• A. Weight
• B. Pressure head
• C. Pressure differential
• D. Head

Answer: (D)

The term for pressure measured in terms of the height of water is referred to as head. In fluid mechanics and water treatment, head represents the height of a column of water that exerts a pressure at the base due to the weight of the water above it. This concept is fundamental in understanding how pressure changes with elevation and is crucial in designing and operating systems that deal with water flow, such as pipelines and tanks.

Head can be expressed in various units, such as meters or feet of water, and it allows engineers and operators to visualize the pressure exerted by water in a more intuitive way, as it relates directly to the height of the water column. Understanding head is essential for calculating flow rates, determining pump requirements, and analyzing the hydraulic behavior of water treatment systems.