Mechanical flowmeters on anesthesia machines operate based on which principle?

Mechanical flowmeters on anesthesia machines operate based on which principle?

• A. The inverse square principle
• B. Flow past a resistance is proportional to the pressure
• C. The Coanda effect
• D. The Venturi effect

Answer: (B)

Mechanical flowmeters on anesthesia machines operate based on the principle that flow past a resistance is proportional to the pressure difference across that resistance. This principle is fundamental in fluid dynamics and is particularly relevant in medical applications where precise measurement of gas or liquid flow is critical for patient safety and effective treatment. When fluid moves through a mechanical flowmeter, it encounters resistance, which creates a pressure differential. This differential can be measured and relates directly to the flow rate of the fluid. The more fluid that flows, the greater the pressure drop across the resistance element in the flowmeter. This relationship allows for the determination of flow rates based on the observed pressure difference, ensuring accurate readings during anesthesia delivery. Other principles mentioned, like the inverse square principle and the Coanda effect, are not directly related to how mechanical flowmeters measure flow rates. The Venturi effect, while it does involve fluid dynamics and pressure differences, is primarily associated with changes in velocity and pressure in a constricted flow pathway rather than the straightforward relationship employed by mechanical flowmeters in anesthesia machines.

Mechanical flowmeters on anesthesia machines operate based on the principle that flow past a resistance is proportional to the pressure difference across that resistance. This principle is fundamental in fluid dynamics and is particularly relevant in medical applications where precise measurement of gas or liquid flow is critical for patient safety and effective treatment.

When fluid moves through a mechanical flowmeter, it encounters resistance, which creates a pressure differential. This differential can be measured and relates directly to the flow rate of the fluid. The more fluid that flows, the greater the pressure drop across the resistance element in the flowmeter. This relationship allows for the determination of flow rates based on the observed pressure difference, ensuring accurate readings during anesthesia delivery.

Other principles mentioned, like the inverse square principle and the Coanda effect, are not directly related to how mechanical flowmeters measure flow rates. The Venturi effect, while it does involve fluid dynamics and pressure differences, is primarily associated with changes in velocity and pressure in a constricted flow pathway rather than the straightforward relationship employed by mechanical flowmeters in anesthesia machines.