The dynamic pressure in a fluid flow can be expressed as

pd = 1/2 ρf v2 (1)

where

pd = dynamic pressure in fluid (Pa, psf (lb/ft2))

ρf = density of fluid (kg/m3, lb/ft3)

v = fluid velocity (m/s, ft/s)

 1 Pa = 10-6 N/mm2 = 10-5 bar = 0.1020 kp/m2 = 1.02x10-4 m H2O = 9.869x10-6 atm =
1.45x10-4 psi (lbf/in2)
 1 psf (lbf/ft2) = 47.88 N/m2 (Pa) = 0.006944 lbf/in2 (psi)
Head loss as water column can be calculated by dividing the dynamic pressure with
the specific weight of water like

hw = pd / γw

= (1/2 ρf v2) / (ρw g)

= ρf v2 / (2 ρw g) (2)

where

hw = head water (m Water, ft Water)

γw = ρw g = specific weight water (9807 N/m3, 62.4 lbf/ft3)

where

ρw = density of water (1000 kg/m3, 1.940 slugs/ft3)

g = acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2, 32.174 ft/s2)

Water Flow
If the flowing fluid is water - then ρf = ρw , and (2) can be modified to

hw = v2/ 2 g (3)

Or simplified to

Metric Units
hw (m H2O) = 0.051 v2 (3b)

hw (mm H2O) = 51 v2 (3c)

where

v = velocity (m/s)

Imperial Units
hw (ft H2O) = 0.0155 vfps2 (3d)

hw (in H2O) = 0.186 vfps2 (3e)

where

vfps = velocity (ft/s)

or

hw (ft H2O) = 0.0155 (vfpm / 60)2 (3f)

hw (in H2O) = 0.186 (vfpm / 60)2 (3g)

where

vfpm = velocity (ft/min)

Water Flow - Head to Velocity Calculator

This calculator can be used to calculate water velocity in a pipe or water stream from a
measured head of water column. The dynamic pressure as head is typically measured with
a pitot tube