Massachusetts 3rd Class Engineer Practice Exam 2025 - Free Engineer License Practice Questions and Study Guide

The principle behind a centrifugal pump relies on the mechanism of centrifugal force, which plays a crucial role in its operation. When the pump's rotor or impeller spins, it generates a centrifugal force that acts on the fluid within the pump. This force pushes the fluid outward from the center of the impeller toward the pump's casing at high velocity. As a result, the kinetic energy of the fluid increases, which facilitates its movement through the pump and into the discharge system.

This outward motion is essential for the functioning of the pump, as it contributes to the overall flow rate of the fluid being pumped. The design and operation of centrifugal pumps are fundamentally centered around this characteristic, making it key to understanding how these pumps work in various applications, from industrial to municipal systems.

Other choices do not accurately describe the primary effect of centrifugal force in the context of a centrifugal pump. For instance, while temperature management and pressure regulation may be relevant considerations in pump operation, they are not direct effects of centrifugal force itself in the context of moving fluid. Similarly, decreasing the flow rate contradicts the primary purpose of a centrifugal pump, which is to increase and maintain flow.