"Don Foreman" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 3 Mar 2006 19:30:19 -0800, (daniel
peterman) wrote:

You guy are about a million times smarter than I, but I got a question
wrong on a test years ago and it nags at me.
What would seem to be the more destructive force.
High pressure water or:
Massive water flow. IE volume
I guessed volume but it was wrong but I think the test was wrong.
It wasa long time ago and before I croak I need somee finality on this.

Bad question. In order to have a clear answer it would have to
state destructive to what.

Tsunamis do enormous damage with volume flow. However, a water jet
cutter can cut materials that would be imervious to less pressure
regardless of volume.

If you direct a garden hose fed by 60 PSI water at your house, the
house will merely get wet. If a 30-foot high tidal wave ( 15 PSI at
the root) moving at 50 mph hits your house -- bye bye house!

But the tidal wave is exerting way more total pressure on the house.