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Hydrostatic Pressure Formula:
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Hydrostatic head pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium 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 fluid at rest depends only on the depth of that point, the density of the fluid, and the acceleration due to gravity.
Details: Calculating hydrostatic pressure is essential in various engineering applications including water supply systems, dam design, hydraulic engineering, and understanding blood pressure in medical contexts.
Tips: Enter fluid density in kg/m³ (water = 1000 kg/m³), height of fluid column in meters, and gravitational acceleration (default is 9.81 m/s² for Earth). All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is the difference between head pressure and total pressure?
A: Head pressure refers specifically to the pressure due to the height of fluid, while total pressure includes atmospheric pressure plus the head pressure.
Q2: Does the shape of the container affect head pressure?
A: No, hydrostatic pressure depends only on depth, not on the shape or size of the container.
Q3: What are typical density values for common fluids?
A: Water = 1000 kg/m³, seawater = 1025 kg/m³, gasoline = 680-750 kg/m³, mercury = 13590 kg/m³.
Q4: How does temperature affect hydrostatic pressure?
A: Temperature affects fluid density, which in turn affects the calculated pressure. Warmer fluids are generally less dense.
Q5: Can this formula be used for gases?
A: For gases, the formula is less accurate because gas density changes significantly with pressure. The barometric formula is more appropriate for gases.