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Hydrostatic Pressure Formula:
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Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to the force of gravity. It increases in proportion to depth measured from the surface because of the increasing weight of fluid exerting downward force from above.
The calculator uses the hydrostatic pressure formula:
Where:
Explanation: The pressure at any point in a static fluid depends only on the depth of that point, the density of the fluid, and the acceleration due to gravity.
Details: Hydrostatic pressure calculations are crucial in various engineering applications, including hydraulic systems, dam design, underwater construction, and medical applications like measuring blood pressure.
Tips: Enter fluid density in kg/m³, gravitational acceleration in m/s² (9.81 m/s² on Earth), and height in meters. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What are common units for hydrostatic pressure?
A: While Pascals (Pa) are the SI unit, hydrostatic pressure is often measured in atmospheres (atm), bars, psi (pounds per square inch), or mmHg (millimeters of mercury).
Q2: Does hydrostatic pressure depend on container shape?
A: No, hydrostatic pressure depends only on fluid density, gravity, and depth, not on the shape or size of the container.
Q3: How does saltwater differ from freshwater in pressure calculations?
A: Saltwater has higher density (about 1025 kg/m³ vs 1000 kg/m³ for freshwater), resulting in greater pressure at the same depth.
Q4: What is the pressure at 10 meters depth in water?
A: Using ρ = 1000 kg/m³ and g = 9.81 m/s², pressure at 10m depth is approximately 98,100 Pa or about 1 atmosphere above atmospheric pressure.
Q5: How is hydrostatic pressure used in medicine?
A: In medicine, hydrostatic pressure principles help understand blood pressure, edema formation, and intravenous fluid administration.