ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Drainage equation

Imagine you have a bathtub full of water and you want to empty it out. You open the drain and the water starts flowing out. But have you ever wondered how fast the water will go down the drain? This is where the drainage equation comes in.

The drainage equation is a formula used to calculate how quickly water can flow through a pipe or drain. It takes into account the size of the pipe, the shape of the pipe, and the slope of the pipe.

Now let’s break this down further. Imagine you have a straw and you pour some water into it. The water will slowly travel through the straw and come out the other end. But if you use a bigger straw, the water will flow out faster. This same concept applies to pipes - the larger the pipe, the more water it can handle at once.

The shape of the pipe also matters. If the pipe is smooth, the water will flow more easily through it. But if the pipe is rough or bumpy, the water will encounter more resistance and flow slower.

Finally, the slope of the pipe is important. If the pipe is sloping downwards, the water will flow quicker than if the pipe is flat. This is because gravity is helping to pull the water down.

So, when considering all of these factors together, engineers can use the drainage equation to figure out the maximum amount of water that can flow through a pipe, and how quickly it will flow. This information is important when designing drainage systems for buildings, roads, and other structures to ensure that water is carried away efficiently and doesn’t cause damage through floods or pooling.