What component(s) of the mud hog diaphragm pump allows water to enter the pump at the inlet, traps the water, and then allows the water to be expelled at the pump's outlet?

The correct answer is clapper valves because they serve the specific function of controlling the flow of water through the pump. In a diaphragm pump, clapper valves enable water to enter through the inlet by opening when the pressure on the inlet side decreases, allowing water to be drawn into the chamber. Once the chamber fills, the clapper valves close to trap the water inside. When the diaphragm shifts to create pressure, these valves open again to expel the water out of the outlet, ensuring a one-way flow that prevents backflow.

Other components, while vital to the pump's operation, do not serve this specific function. For instance, ball check valves are also used in some types of pumps for similar purposes but operate differently, typically allowing flow in one direction with a ball that seats against a seat to prevent backflow. The rotating engine cam is involved in driving the diaphragm's movement, while the diaphragm assembly itself is responsible for creating the pressure that moves the water, but neither directly controls the flow of water at the inlet and outlet in the same manner as clapper valves.