What type of pressure is measured by a pitot gauge?

A pitot gauge is specifically designed to measure dynamic pressure, which is the pressure associated with the motion of a fluid. It operates by measuring the difference between the static pressure and the total pressure in the flow of a fluid. The total pressure is comprised of static pressure and dynamic pressure, and by using a pitot tube, one can determine the velocity of the fluid by measuring how much the dynamic pressure exceeds the static pressure.

In this context, dynamic pressure is crucial for various applications, including determining airspeed in aviation or fluid velocity in various engineering scenarios. Understanding dynamic pressure helps in evaluating the performance and behavior of fluid systems, making it essential knowledge for a driver/operator.

While other types of pressures—such as vacuum pressure (which measures pressure below atmospheric pressure), static pressure (which is the pressure exerted by a fluid at rest), and flow pressure (often interchangeable with dynamic pressure but not specifically measured by a pitot gauge)—contribute to overall fluid dynamics, they are not directly measured by a pitot gauge, which is why dynamic pressure is the correct answer.