Prepare for the American Water Works Water Treatment Plant Operator Test. Study with multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready to excel!

Multiple Choice

In fluid mechanics, velocity is defined as the rate of change of which quantity?

Velocity is the rate at which position (displacement) changes with time. For a fluid particle, its position is described by a vector r(t); the velocity is the time derivative of that position, v = dr/dt. This tells you both how fast the particle is moving and in what direction. The other quantities describe different properties: pressure isabout force per area, temperature about thermal energy, and mass about the amount of matter, none of which describe how position changes over time.

Velocity is the rate at which position (displacement) changes with time. For a fluid particle, its position is described by a vector r(t); the velocity is the time derivative of that position, v = dr/dt. This tells you both how fast the particle is moving and in what direction. The other quantities describe different properties: pressure isabout force per area, temperature about thermal energy, and mass about the amount of matter, none of which describe how position changes over time.