Which term describes the physical quantity measured by a flow meter?

The term that best describes the physical quantity measured by a flow meter is flow rate. A flow meter is specifically designed to quantify the movement of fluids, indicating how much fluid passes through a designated point over a specific period of time, typically expressed in units such as gallons per minute or liters per second. This measurement is crucial in various applications, including process control and monitoring, where accurate flow measurement is essential for operational efficiency and safety.

While terms like pressure, temperature, and density are important physical quantities in their own right, they are not the primary measurement that a flow meter is designed to provide. Pressure refers to the force exerted by the fluid per unit area, temperature indicates the thermal state of the fluid, and density represents the mass per unit volume of the fluid. However, none of these quantities encompass the specific function of a flow meter, which is focused on measuring the flow rate itself.