Forces in Fluids

Chapter 11
 Why don’t you sink into the snow
when you wear snow shoes?

Pressure
Pressure is the force pushing on a
surface.
Because the size of the area over which the
force is distributed has changed.

 Pressure =
Force/Area

 Pressure is equal
to the force
exerted on a
surface divided by
the total area over
which the force is
exerted.
Units for Pressure
 Force is measured in Newton’s (N).
 Area is measured in square meters.
 SI unit for pressure is N/m2 which is
also called the Pascal (Pa).
 1 Pa = 1N/m2
Fluid Pressure
 A fluid is a substance that can easily
flow.
 Fluids exert pressures on on
surfaces they touch.
Fluids are made of
molecules.
 Molecules are
constantly moving.
 All of the forces
exerted by the
individual
molecules in a fluid
add together to
make up the
pressure exerted
by the fluid.
Fluid pressure =
 Total force exerted
by the fluid divided
by the area over
which the force is
exerted.
Fluid Pressure all around.
 Air Pressure or
atmospheric
pressure is the
pressure exerted
on us by the air.
How can we support the
weight of the atmosphere?
 Each cubic meter of air has a mass
of 1 kg.
 How can we support this and not
feel a thing?
 Because in a fluid that is not
moving, pressure at a given point is
exerted equally in all directions.
Balanced Pressures
As the atmosphere
is pushing down on
your hand – there is
also atmospheric
pressure pushing up
on our hand.
Remember the can crush
lab?
Variations in fluid pressure
 Air pressure
decreases as
elevation increases.
Remember air
pressure at a certain
point results from the
weight of air above
that point.The higher
you go the less
weight above you.
Why do your ears pop?
 As the air pressure outside your
body adjusts the air pressure inside
your body has to adjust too.

 The pressure inside is greater than

outside so pressure is released and
all is balanced again.
Pressure and depth
 Pressure increases
as you descend –
because there is
more water above
you and therefore
more weight above
you.