What is pressure head caused by?

Pressure head is primarily caused by the height of the water column in a system, which is directly related to water elevation. This concept stems from hydrostatic pressure, where the pressure at a certain depth in a fluid is influenced by the weight of the fluid above it. The height of the water column creates a force that exerts pressure at any given point beneath the surface.

When there is a change in elevation, such as from a water source located at a higher elevation than the point of measurement, the pressure head increases due to the gravitational force acting on the water. Thus, when the elevation increases, the pressure head also increases, reflecting the stability of this relationship within fluid mechanics.

In contrast, flow rate, temperature, and pipe diameter do not directly generate pressure head. While these factors can affect the overall pressure and flow conditions within a system, they do not determine the pressure head conceptually rooted in elevation.