For several years now questions in the examinations have related to the derivation

of formulae, i.e., how are certain formulae arrived at. This is an important concept
as this can help a candidate understand the process of calculating specific values.
These questions are asked in every paper set. However the candidates continue to
grapple with the concept.

Below are some of the questions asked in past papers on the subject of derivation of
formulae;

F
Derive the formula P = gH from the formula P =
A

step 1. Pressure equals the Force exerted over a given area.

Force
Pressure =
Area

step 2. But Force is equal to mass times gravity,

m g
P =
Area

step 3. With mass being equal to the Volume times the density, mass can be
replaced in the formula

V density g
P =
A

step 4. With the Volume being equal to Area times Height, V can be
replaced with A x H

A H density g
P =
A
Simplify this i.e., the Area cancels itself, and left is

P = H x density x g

step 5. With the Density of water being 1 000 kg/m 3

P = 1000 g H

And as the kilopascal (kPa) is generally used and 1 kPa = 1000Pa

the resulting equation is then divided by 1 000, which leaves the
following;

P = gH with the unit kPa

DERIVING THE FIRE FIGHTERS FORMULA FOR NOZZLE DISCHARGE

Question
Deriving the firefighters formula for Nozzle discharge (L) in liters per minute
from the formula for Quantity of water (Q) in cubic meters per second.

d2 P
L = from the formula Q = v A.
15

Answer

step 1. Converting m3 per second to liters per minute i.e., Q to L

a. Q = flow of water in m 3 /s, and
b. 1 cubic meter of water is equal to 1 000 liters,
c. Therefore 1000 Liters per second is equal to 60 000 liters per minute.
d. Therefore L = Q 60 000

step 2. Substitute v x A x 60 0000 for Q in d. above

L = v A 60 000

step 3. Substitute A with ,7854 D 2 (Area of circle)

L = 0,7854 D 2 v 60000

d 2
step 4. Substitute D 2 with ( ) because
1000

it is necessary to convert meters (D) to millimeters (d) by dividing by 1 000

d d
L = ,7854 60000 v
1000 1000

step 5. the formula is now simplified further by canceling out the zeros and
multiplying the remainder, resulting in

4,7vd 2
L=
100

step 6. Now divide above and below the line with 4,7

vd 2
L=
21,2

step 7. It is known that v (velocity) = 2 P , and that the square root of 2 = 1,414
therefore v (velocity) can be substituted with 1,414 P , resulting in

1,414 P d 2
L=
21,2
 step 8. Now divide below and above the line with 1,414 and the result is;

d2 P
L=
15

L is the discharge in liters per minute, d is the nozzle diameter in mm, and P is
the pressure at the nozzle in kPa.

DERIVING THE FORMULA FOR PRESSURE LOSS DUE TO FRICTION

Question

Derive the Fire Fighters Formula for pressure loss due to friction from the
DArcy equation:

4 flv 2
Hf =
D2 g

Answer

Step 1. It is known (from the first question dealt with above) that Pressure is
equal to Height gravity (unit = kPa), and that

Step 2. Pressure loss due to friction is equal to Head loss due to friction times
gravity Pf = Hf g

4 flv 2 g
Step 3. Now substitute Darcy for Head Loss Pf =
D2 g
Step 4. And simplify the formula, which now becomes
2 flv 2
Pf =
D

Step 5. Express the size of hose in mm,

d
D=
1000

Step 6. The formula now becomes:

2 flv 2
Pf = and then simplified to
d
1000

2000 flv 2
Pf =
d
DERIVATION OF THE FORMULA FOR JET REACTION
Question

1,57 Pd 2
Derive the formula R = from the formula R = density Q v
1000

Answer:

Step 1. Substitute density with 1 000 (density of water = 1 000 kg/m 3 )

Step 2. Substitute Q with v A (Q = v A)

Step 3. The formula now becomes:

R = 1 000 v 2 A

v2
Step 4. But P=
2

Step 5. Therefore 2P = v 2 , and

Step 6. Substitute v 2 with 2P

Step 7. The formula now becomes:

2 PA
R =
1000

Step 8. If 0,7854 d 2 is substituted for a, the formula then becomes

0,7854 2 Pd 2
R = and follows therefore as
1000

1,57 Pd 2
R =
1000