Enter the water density, flow area, and flow velocity into the calculator to determine the force of moving water.

Force Of Moving Water Calculator

Enter any 3 values to calculate the missing variable

Force of Moving Water Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the force of moving water for a given water density, flow area, and flow velocity.

F = ρ * A * v²

Variables:

  • F is the force of moving water (N)
  • ρ is the water density (kg/m³)
  • A is the flow area (m²)
  • v is the flow velocity (m/s)

To calculate the force of moving water, multiply the water density by the flow area and the square of the flow velocity.

What is the Force of Moving Water?

The force of moving water refers to the impact or pressure exerted by water in motion on an object or surface. This force is a crucial factor in various engineering and environmental applications, such as designing dams, bridges, and flood control systems. The force depends on the water’s density, the area through which it flows, and its velocity. Understanding this force helps in predicting and mitigating potential damage caused by water currents and waves.

How to Calculate the Force of Moving Water?

The following steps outline how to calculate the force of moving water.


  1. First, determine the water density (ρ).
  2. Next, determine the flow area (A).
  3. Next, determine the flow velocity (v).
  4. Finally, calculate the force of moving water using the formula F = ρ * A * v².
  5. After inserting the values and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Water Density (ρ) = 1000 kg/m³

Flow Area (A) = 2 m²

Flow Velocity (v) = 3 m/s