A 5-inch diameter hose is roughly equivalent in flow to how many 2.5-inch hoses?

A 5-inch diameter hose is roughly equivalent in flow to how many 2.5-inch hoses?

• A. Three
• B. Five
• C. Two
• D. Four

Answer: (D)

Flow capacity scales with the cross-sectional area of the hose opening. For circular hoses, area is proportional to the square of the diameter. Doubling the diameter from 2.5 inches to 5 inches increases area by (5/2.5)^2 = 4. So a single 5-inch hose can move about the same flow as four 2.5-inch hoses, assuming similar pressures and friction losses. In practice, factors like friction and nozzle pressure can shift this a bit, but the four-to-one ratio is the standard rule of thumb.

Flow capacity scales with the cross-sectional area of the hose opening. For circular hoses, area is proportional to the square of the diameter. Doubling the diameter from 2.5 inches to 5 inches increases area by (5/2.5)^2 = 4. So a single 5-inch hose can move about the same flow as four 2.5-inch hoses, assuming similar pressures and friction losses. In practice, factors like friction and nozzle pressure can shift this a bit, but the four-to-one ratio is the standard rule of thumb.