Question 298General Subjects - QMED

The correct answer is A) vapor pockets. Cavitation in a centrifugal pump refers to the formation of vapor pockets or bubbles in the fluid being pumped. This occurs when the local pressure in the fluid drops below the vapor pressure of the liquid, causing the liquid to vaporize and form these vapor pockets. The collapse of these vapor pockets as they move into higher pressure regions can cause significant vibration, noise, and reduced pump capacity. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the phenomenon of cavitation. B) steam knock refers to a different issue related to steam systems, C) fluid friction is not the primary cause of cavitation, and D) water hammer action is a separate issue caused by rapid changes in fluid flow, not cavitation.