If a pendent or upright sprinkler is discharging 15 gpm at a point 4 feet below the sprinkler, the discharge pattern will measure ________ feet in diameter.

In this scenario, we're looking at a typical discharge pattern of a sprinkler system. When a sprinkler discharges water, it creates a pattern that can be measured in terms of diameter at various distances below the sprinkler head.

For a pendant or upright sprinkler discharging water at a specific rate, there are established hydraulic principles that govern how far the water travels horizontally once it leaves the sprinkler head. Given that the discharge rate is 15 gallons per minute (gpm) at a point 4 feet below the sprinkler, one can use standard formulas or empirical data from hydraulic research to approximate the diameter of the water coverage on the ground at this height.

In general, for sprinklers, it is common to see that a discharge rate of 15 gpm can produce a pattern diameter around 16 feet at the specified distance. This is confirmed by various standards and practical field tests in sprinkler system design.

Consequently, the calculation or established data corroborates that at a discharge rate of 15 gpm, the resulting diameter of the water distribution pattern will typically be around 16 feet at a height of 4 feet below the sprinkler head. This understanding is critical for designing and installing effective irrigation systems to ensure adequate coverage and efficiency.