The operation of a centrifugal pump is primarily based on which principle?

The operation of a centrifugal pump is primarily based on the principle of centrifugal force. In such pumps, liquid enters the pump impeller and is thrown outward by the rotating action of the impeller blades. As the impeller spins, the kinetic energy of the liquid increases, causing it to move radially outward and creating a pressure differential. This action utilizes the centrifugal force generated by the rotation to convert the mechanical energy from the motor into hydraulic energy, effectively moving the fluid through the system.

While hydraulic pressure and Bernoulli's principle are significant factors in the overall operation of fluid systems, they derive from the effects of centrifugal force as the pump operates. Mechanical advantage does not directly relate to the mechanism of how centrifugal pumps function, as it primarily pertains to leverage systems rather than fluid dynamics.