A weir is used to measure which characteristic of open-channel flow?

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Multiple Choice

A weir is used to measure which characteristic of open-channel flow?

Weirs measure how much water is flowing through an open channel by using the height of the water upstream of the crest to infer the discharge. As water pools and creates head above the weir, the amount that can pass over the crest increases, and standard relationships for the weir’s shape translate that head into a discharge value. In other words, the purpose of a weir is to estimate flow rate, not to directly provide the water depth, temperature, or a simple head measurement without converting it to discharge. The measured quantity you use for control or reporting is the flow rate (discharge) of the stream.

Weirs measure how much water is flowing through an open channel by using the height of the water upstream of the crest to infer the discharge. As water pools and creates head above the weir, the amount that can pass over the crest increases, and standard relationships for the weir’s shape translate that head into a discharge value. In other words, the purpose of a weir is to estimate flow rate, not to directly provide the water depth, temperature, or a simple head measurement without converting it to discharge. The measured quantity you use for control or reporting is the flow rate (discharge) of the stream.

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