Relative discharge of mouthpieces:\nThe discharge through a convergent mouthpiece is ________ the discharge through an internal (re-entrant/Borda's) mouthpiece of the same diameter and head.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: double

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Mouthpieces are short tubes fitted to orifices. Their discharge differs with geometry because coefficients change. A re-entrant (Borda’s) mouthpiece has a much smaller coefficient of discharge than a well-designed convergent mouthpiece, so, for the same head and diameter, the convergent type delivers substantially more flow.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Same diameter and same head of water.
  • Well-formed convergent mouthpiece running full.
  • Internal re-entrant mouthpiece representing Borda’s type.


Concept / Approach:
Discharge Q = C_d * A * sqrt(2 * g * H). For re-entrant mouthpiece, C_d is about 0.5. For a convergent mouthpiece, C_d commonly lies around 0.85–0.95 (depending on details). The ratio of discharges is therefore roughly 0.9/0.5 ≈ 1.8, often summarized in basic MCQs as “about twice.”


Step-by-Step Solution:

Q_conv / Q_reentrant = (C_d,conv / C_d,reentrant) * (A/A) * (same head factor)≈ 0.9 / 0.5 = 1.8 → “approximately double”.Therefore, among the discrete options, “double” is the best match.


Verification / Alternative check:
Handbook tables consistently show re-entrant coefficients near 0.5 and convergent near 0.9 for water at moderate heads, supporting a near-two ratio.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Equal to: Ignores large coefficient differences.
  • One-half: Reverses the comparison.
  • Three fourth: Too low for typical data; underestimates improvement.


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing orifice coefficients (≈0.62) with mouthpiece coefficients; comparing to a short cylindrical mouthpiece running free instead of re-entrant.


Final Answer:
double

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