specific energy


specific energy

[spə′sif·ik ′en·ər·jē] (hydrology) The energy at any cross section of an open channel, measured above the channel bottom as datum; numerically the specific energy is the sum of the water depth plus the velocity head, v 2/2 g, where v is the velocity of flow and g the acceleration of gravity. (thermodynamics) The internal energy of a substance per unit mass.