Power of Flowing Water

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The power of flowing water is amazing, and creates a lot of pressure on objects in its path.

For example, one inch of rain on one acre weighs about 113 tons.

On average, water flows at about 3-6 miles per hour in a stream. The pressure against a person is about 3-6 pounds per square foot.

If, however the stream flows quickly and rises by one foot, the pressure can be as much as 500 pounds per square foot, enough to topple any human.

Two feet of fast flowing water will create as much as 1,500 pounds of pressure…and that’s enough to float a car.

Water has tremendous power….if you encounter fast-moving water…..stay away.