Key Concept: Specific speed (Ns) is a defined reference value used to compare pumps of different sizes.
Why it's correct: By definition, Ns is the speed at which a geometrically similar pump delivers unit discharge (1 m³/s) at unit head (1 m) — matching 'unit discharge at unit head' exactly.
Why others fail: Maximum efficiency, zero discharge at max head, and infinite discharge at zero head all describe points on a pump's performance curve, not the definition of specific speed itself.