Final answer:
The best description of the rate of discharge for a low-volume stream is less than 40 gpm or 160 L/m. Examples involving faucets, swimming pools, and rivers showcase how we calculate and compare flow rates in different contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate of discharge of a low-volume stream can be categorized as less than 40 gallons per minute (gpm) or 160 liters per minute (L/m). This is because low-volume streams generally have a minimal water flow compared to larger, more vigorous bodies of water. When dealing with calculations related to flow rate, we often use examples such as water flow from a faucet to understand the concepts of volume and velocity in stream flow. For example, if water discharges from a faucet with a 1.80-cm diameter at a 0.500 m/s speed, we can calculate the flow rate in cubic centimeters per second by using the formula for the volume of a cylinder and factoring in the velocity of the water.
In more extreme cases, such as needing to fill a private swimming pool or considering the flow rate of rivers, we compare the time it would take to fill a given volume using sources of water liters per minute, which demonstrates the vast differences in flow rates between small streams and large rivers.