What does a Pitot tube typically measure?

A Pitot tube is specifically designed to measure the velocity of fluid or gas flow. It operates on the principle of dynamic pressure, which is derived from the difference between the static pressure in the fluid and the total pressure. When placed in the flow of a fluid, the Pitot tube captures the larger total pressure and compares it to the static pressure taken from ports that face perpendicular to the flow. The difference between these pressures can be used in Bernoulli’s equation to calculate the fluid or gas velocity.

While fluid temperature, density, and pressure are important characteristics in fluid dynamics, they are not the primary measurements provided by a Pitot tube. Other instruments and methods, such as thermocouples or pressure sensors, are typically employed for those measurements. Thus, the correct answer identifies the primary function of a Pitot tube in the context of fluid measurement.