When comparing water lines, how does a 6-inch diameter line's capacity compare to two 4-inch lines?

The correct choice indicates that a 6-inch diameter water line has a greater capacity for transporting water than two 4-inch lines. This conclusion is based on the principle of pipe flow and the relationship between the diameter of a pipe and its cross-sectional area, which directly affects its flow capacity.

To comprehend this, one can refer to the formula for the area of a circle (A = πr²), where 'r' is the radius of the pipe. For a 6-inch diameter line, the radius is 3 inches, resulting in a cross-sectional area of approximately 28.27 square inches. For a 4-inch diameter line, the radius is 2 inches, giving a cross-sectional area of approximately 12.57 square inches. Therefore, two 4-inch lines combined have a total area of about 25.13 square inches (12.57 * 2).

When comparing these areas, the 6-inch line’s area (28.27 square inches) is indeed larger than the combined area of the two 4-inch lines (25.13 square inches). This means the single 6-inch line can transport a greater volume of water compared to the two smaller pipes.

This concept is critical in water distribution systems