Question

If hydraulic gradient becomes zero, then discharge will be

• A. Maximum
• B. Minimum
• C. Zero
• D. Infinite

Hint:

Darcy's Law: \[ \boxed{Q=KiA} \] If \[ \boxed{i=0} \] then \[ \boxed{Q=0.} \]

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Write down Darcy's law.
Groundwater discharge through a cross-section follows \( Q = KiA \), where $K$ is hydraulic conductivity, $i$ is the hydraulic gradient, and $A$ is the cross-sectional area.
Step 2: Plug in a zero gradient.
If the hydraulic gradient $i$ becomes zero, meaning there is no slope in the water level to drive flow, then $Q = K(0)A$.
Step 3: Simplify.
Multiplying anything by zero gives zero, so the discharge itself must be zero, no matter what values $K$ and $A$ take.
\[ \boxed{\text{Zero}} \]