Gravity’s Effect on Water Flow from Tap??

[whoelsebutme]

water from tap...

A tap is left slightly open., and a gentle stream of water is flowing downwards from it.

Why is it that the stream becomes thinner as it gets farther away from the tap?

??

 

[FredGarvin]

In a word...Gravity.

 

[Doc Al]

At any point along the stream, the same amount of water flows by every second. Since the stream picks up speed as it falls, that same amount of water gets stretched out, taking up a smaller diameter. Surface tension keeps the stream together.