A venturi meter installed in a pipe with a 38.1 cm diameter has a throat diameter of 21.24 cm. The static gage pressure upstream of the venturi is 172.4 kPa. The average fluid velocity in the pipe is 7.62 m/s. The fluid flowing is water. If cavitation is just beginning at the throat of the venturi, what is most nearly the absolute vapor pressure of the water at the throat?

a) 2.2 kPa

b) 49 kPa

c) 270 kPa

d) 290 kPa