The number of circular pipes with an inside diameter of 1 inch which will carry the same amount of water as a pipe with an inside diameter of 6 inches is
Aptitude
Volume and Surface Area
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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A$6\pi$
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B12
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C36
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D$36\pi$
Answer
Correct Answer: 36
Explanation
### Concept & Cross-Sectional Area
The amount of water a pipe can carry at a given flow velocity is directly proportional to its cross-sectional area, which is proportional to the square of its diameter.
$$ \text{Capacity} \propto d^2 $$
### Step-by-Step Solution
* Let the number of 1-inch pipes be $n$.
* Area of the 6-inch pipe = $\pi \times (\frac{6}{2})^2 \propto 6^2 = 36$.
* Area of a 1-inch pipe = $\pi \times (\frac{1}{2})^2 \propto 1^2 = 1$.
* To carry the same amount of water, $n \times 1 = 36 \Rightarrow n = 36$.
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
Since flow capacity is proportional to the area (and thus to diameter squared), simply square the ratio of the diameters: $(\frac{6}{1})^2 = 36$.
### Common Pitfall
Assuming the capacity is directly proportional to the diameter rather than the square of the diameter, leading to an incorrect answer of 6.
### Final Answer
Therefore, the correct answer is **36**.