Gallons per second to Cubic kilometers per second conversion

How to convert gallons per second to cubic kilometers per second?

Sure, let's break down the conversion and also look at some real-world examples for better context.

Conversion from Gallons per Second to Cubic Kilometers per Second

Step 1: Understanding the Units

1. Gallon (US liquid): In the United States, a gallon is defined as 3.78541 liters.
2. Cubic Kilometer: 1 cubic kilometer is equal to $10^{12}$ (1 trillion) liters.

Step 2: Conversion

• 1 gallon = 3.78541 liters
• 1 liter = $10^{-12}$ cubic kilometers (since there are $10^{12}$ liters in a cubic kilometer)

Therefore: $1 \text{ gallon} = 3.78541 \times 10^{-12} \text{ cubic kilometers}$

So, to convert 1 gallon per second (gal/s) to cubic kilometers per second (km³/s): $1 \text{ gal/s} = 3.78541 \times 10^{-12} \text{ km³/s}$

Real-World Examples of Gallons per Second

1. Fire Hose:

   • A typical fire hose can discharge around 10-20 gallons per second depending on the pressure and diameter of the hose.
   • Example: If a fire hose discharges at 15 gal/s, it would be 15 gal/s or approximately $5.67812 \times 10^{-11}$ km³/s.

2. Small River Flow:

   • A small river might flow at a rate of 1,000 gallons per second.
   • Example: 1,000 gal/s is equivalent to $3.78541 \times 10^{-9}$ km³/s.

3. Large Water Pump:

   • Industrial pumps can have high flow rates, such as around 500 gal/s.
   • Example: 500 gal/s is equivalent to $1.892705 \times 10^{-9}$ km³/s.

4. Major River Flow:

   • The average flow rate of the Mississippi River at New Orleans is about 600,000 cubic feet per second. To convert this to gallons per second:
     • 1 cubic foot = 7.48052 gallons
     • Therefore, 600,000 cubic feet per second = 600,000 $\times$ 7.48052 = 4,488,312 gallons per second
     • Example: The Mississippi River at this point flows at a rate of 4,488,312 gal/s, which is roughly $1.69735 \times 10^{-5}$ km³/s.

These examples help illustrate the range of applications where understanding flow rates in gallons per second is crucial, from firefighting to managing water resources in large rivers.