According to Darcy's Law, how is discharge velocity related to the hydraulic gradient in saturated soils?

• A. Proportional to the hydraulic gradient
• B. Proportional to the square of the hydraulic gradient
• C. Inversely proportional to the hydraulic gradient
• D. Inversely proportional to the square of the hydraulic gradient

Answer: (A)

Darcy's Law establishes a fundamental relationship between the discharge velocity of groundwater and the hydraulic gradient in saturated media. The law states that the discharge velocity is directly proportional to the hydraulic gradient. This means that as the hydraulic gradient increases, the discharge velocity also increases linearly. Essentially, the greater the difference in hydraulic head over a distance, the more water will flow through the saturated soil.

This proportionality illustrates how groundwater movement is driven by pressure differences within the soil and supports various engineering applications, such as the design of drainage systems and the assessment of groundwater flow in environmental studies. The direct relationship ensures that professionals can predict and manage the flow of water through different soil types by measuring and understanding hydraulic gradients.