Which of the following is an example of a centrifugal pump?

A centrifugal pump is a type of pump that uses rotational energy, typically from a rotating shaft, to move fluids through the pump by converting kinetic energy into hydrodynamic energy. The flow is directed outward from the center of rotation, which creates a pressure differential and facilitates the movement of fluid.

The automobile water pump serves this function by using an impeller to spin within a casing, drawing the coolant from the engine and compressing it to push it through the engine and radiator. This design allows for efficient fluid movement, making the automobile water pump a prime example of a centrifugal pump.

In contrast, the human heart functions as a muscular pump that utilizes contractions to move blood, but it operates using a different mechanism that is not categorized as centrifugal. The boat propeller does create thrust and moves water, but it is not a pump designed to transfer a fluid from one place to another through a pressure differential in the same way. The piston pump operates based on a different principle, using reciprocating motion to create pressure and move fluids, which classifies it separately from centrifugal pumps. Therefore, the automobile water pump is correctly identified as a centrifugal pump.