See volume flow and velocity in motion
How fast is 10 L/min inside a pipe? Enter internal diameter and volume flow to see average velocity and transit time.
Diagram and inputs ↓Choose another visualization (19 topics)
Start with a reference or example
Get a sense of the value, then inspect the diagram or motion.
| Reference / example | Value | What it means | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 litres per minute | 1 L/min | Time for 1 L: 60 seconds | |
| 10 litres per minute | 10 L/min | Time for 1 L: 6 seconds | |
| 60 litres per minute | 60 L/min | Time for 1 L: 1 seconds |
Examples use 20 mm internal diameter and 1 m length. Throughput time is calculated from volume flow.
Applies to condition A. Then press Play or Reveal.
Flow settings
Assumes a full circular pipe at steady volume flow. Markers illustrate cross-sectional average velocity.
Flow preview
Ready2D · longitudinal pipe section
Diameter and length use separate drawing scales. Extremely narrow pipes appear as lines. Velocity profiles, vortices, pressure losses and pump capacity are not modeled.
Volume flow and velocity
Does a wider pipe mean lower velocity at the same flow rate?
Volume flow Q and cross-sectional average velocity v satisfy Q = A × v. A circular pipe has area A = πD² / 4. At the same flow rate, doubling internal diameter quadruples area and reduces average velocity to one quarter. Add a comparison to see this difference.
Do the markers reproduce actual water flow?
Markers move at the cross-sectional average velocity. They do not model laminar or turbulent profiles, near-wall flow, free surfaces or bubbles. They visualize average speed derived from the entered flow rate.
What does the 1 L gauge represent?
It shows the time for one litre to pass through a cross-section. The gauge repeats every litre and cumulative volume is also shown. Actual vessel filling behavior is not modeled.
Assumptions and reference
Assumes constant density, steady flow and a full circular pipe. Conservation of mass reduces to volume flow Q = A × v at constant density. Reverse flow, gas compression, branches and leaks are not modeled.