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Hydrostatic Pressure Equation:
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Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at any 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 equation:
Where:
Explanation: The pressure at any point in a fluid is directly proportional to the density of the fluid, gravitational acceleration, and the height of the fluid column above that point.
Details: Accurate hydrostatic pressure calculation is crucial for designing hydraulic systems, calculating forces on submerged structures, determining fluid levels in tanks, and various engineering applications in civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering.
Tips: Enter fluid density in kg/m³ (water = 1000 kg/m³), fluid head in meters, and gravitational acceleration in m/s² (Earth = 9.81 m/s²). All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is the difference between head and pressure?
A: Head is the height of a fluid column, while pressure is the force per unit area. They are related through the fluid density and gravity.
Q2: What are common fluid densities?
A: Water = 1000 kg/m³, seawater = 1025 kg/m³, gasoline = 700-750 kg/m³, mercury = 13500 kg/m³.
Q3: How does temperature affect the calculation?
A: Temperature affects fluid density. Warmer fluids are less dense, which reduces hydrostatic pressure for the same head height.
Q4: Can this be used for gases?
A: Yes, but gas density changes significantly with pressure and temperature, so this simple formula is less accurate for gases.
Q5: What are typical pressure units?
A: Pascals (Pa), kilopascals (kPa), bars, atmospheres (atm), psi (pounds per square inch). 1 bar = 100,000 Pa ≈ 14.5 psi.