A hose has a flow rate of 500 gpm with a friction loss of 4 psi; if the flow rate increases to 1000 gpm, then the friction loss will increase to what value?

To understand why the friction loss increases to 16 psi when the flow rate doubles from 500 gpm to 1000 gpm, it is essential to consider the relationship between flow rate and friction loss in a hose.

Friction loss in a fire hose is calculated using the square of the flow rate. This means that if you double the flow rate, the friction loss increases by a factor of four.

In this scenario, when the flow is 500 gpm and the friction loss is 4 psi, if you increase the flow to 1000 gpm, the new friction loss can be derived from the following calculation:

1. The initial flow rate is 500 gpm, which corresponds to a friction loss of 4 psi.

2. Upon doubling the flow rate to 1000 gpm, the friction loss increases as follows:

• Since flow rate increases from 500 gpm to 1000 gpm (which is a doubling), the increase in friction loss is calculated as:

• New Friction Loss = Initial Friction Loss × (New Flow Rate / Initial Flow Rate)²

• New Friction Loss = 4 psi × (1000 / 500)² = 4 psi