CONTINUITY EQUATION

Equation of Continuity is defined as the mean velocities at all cross sections having equal

areas are then equal, and if the areas are not equal, the velocities are inversely proportional to

the areas of the respective cross sections." Thus, if the flow is constant in a reach of channel the

product of the area and velocity will be the same for any two cross sections within that reach.

Looking the units of the product of area and velocity leads to the definition of flow rate.

This is expressed in the Continuity Equation:

Where:
Q = the volumetric flow rate
A = the cross-sectional area of flow
V = the mean velocity