Hydrostatic Pressure Forces

1. Hydrostatic Pressure Force on a Submerged Plane Surface

C – Centroid of the plane area P – Centre of pressure

F = Hydrostatic pressure force on the plane area = Area x Pressure at the centroid
F  A. gh (1)
I G sin 2 
hP  h  (2)
Ah

2. Hydrostatic Pressure Force on a Submerged Curved Surface

(a) Horizontal Component

Horizontal component of the hydrostatic pressure force in a given direction = Hydrostatic
pressure force on the projected area of the curved surface on a plane normal to the direction.

The line of action of this force will pass through the centre of pressure of the projected area of
the curved surface.

(b) Vertical Component

Vertical component of the hydrostatic pressure force = Weight of the fluid lying above the
curved surface.

The line of action of this force will pass through the centre of gravity of the fluid lying above the
curved surface.

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 Second Moment of Area of Selected Geometrical Shapes

Buoyancy and Archimedes Principle

1. Buoyancy

If a body is submerged in a fluid, wholly or partially, the body experiences an upward force due
to the fluid surrounding it. The phenomenon of upward force exerted by a fluid on the body is
called “buoyancy” and the force is called “buoyancy force or upthrust”. The body experiences
buoyancy whether it floats or sinks under its own weight or due to other forces applied to it.

2. Archimedes Principle

A body partially or totally immersed in a fluid experiences and upward buoyancy force equal to
the weight of the fluid displaced by the body.

The point of application of the buoyant force is the “centre of buoyancy” and is at the centre of
gravity of the displaced volume of fluid. If the body is in floating equilibrium weight of the
body is equal to the buoyant force and the centre of gravity of the body and the centre of
buoyancy should be on the same vertical line.

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