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Fluid Mechanics-I
LECTURE 3

Fluid Statics
Study of fluids at rest

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Pressure
The pressure is defined as the force exerted on a unit area.
If F represents the total force on some finite area A while dF
represents force on infinitesimal area dA, the pressure is;
=
If the pressure is uniform over the area;
=

Pressure at a point
The pressure at any point in fluid at rest is same in every direction.
Consider a free body diagram that is obtained by removing a small
triangular wedge of fluid from some arbitrary location within a fluid
mass.
The only external forces acting on the wedge are due to the pressure
and the weight.

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Pressure at a point

Pressure at a point
The equations of motion (Newton’s second law, F=ma) in the y and z
directions are, respectively,

∑ = − = = = (I)

∑ = − − = (II)

= ; =
Substituting these in equations (I) & (II).

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Pressure at a point
− =
2

− = ( )
2

− =
2

Pressure at a point
− − =
2 2

− − = ( )
2 2

− − =
2 2

− = +
2 2

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Pressure at a point
− =( + )
2
Since we are interested in what is happening at a point, we take the limit
, and as approach zero.

− =0 ⇒ =

− =0 ⇒ =

= = (Pressure is same in all directions)

Pressure at a point
Thus, we conclude that “the pressure at a point in a fluid at rest is
independent of direction”.
This important result is known as Pascal’s law.

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Pressure variation in a static fluid

Consider a small rectangular element of fluid as shown in figure on next
page removed from some arbitrary position within the mass of fluid.
Assume the pressure at centre (centroid) of the volume is .
The dimensions of volume are , and .
The forces acting on the fluid element in vertical direction are body force,
the action of gravity on mass of fluid element and the surface forces applied
by the surrounding fluid on sides of fluid element.

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Pressure at variation in a static fluid

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Pressure variation in a static fluid

Since the fluid is at rest, the element is in equilibrium and the summation of
forces on element in any direction must be zero.
Summing up forces in vertical direction and setting equal to zero.
∑Fz = 0

− − + − =0
2 2

− − + =
2 2

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Pressure variation in a static fluid

− − + =
2 2

− − − =
2 2

− − =
2 2

− + =
2 2

− =

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Pressure variation in a static fluid

− =

=−

Since p is independent of x and y, we can write;

=− (III)

This is the general equation that relates pressure variation in a fluid mass to
vertical position.

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Pressure variation in a static fluid

= (− )

=− ⇒ − =− ( − )

− = ( − )
This equation is generally applicable to liquids, because they are only slightly
compressible.
In case of liquids, it is convenient to measure distance vertically downward
as shown in figure on next page.

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Pressure variation in a static fluid

p1 = 0

h = z1-z p1

z1 h = z1-z
p
z1

z p
z

= ℎ − = − = ℎ

This pressure is called hydrostatic pressure

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Pressure head
Consider an open tank of liquid as shown in figure below

ℎ=

= ℎ

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Pressure head
The pressure at any depth h is = ℎ.
If is assumed constant, there is definite relationship between and ℎ.
That is, the pressure (force per unit area) is equivalent to a height ℎ of
some liquid of constant specific weight .
Some time we express pressure in terms of equivalent height of a column
of some liquid rather than in force per unit area.
Pressure expressed in this manner is called “pressure head”.

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Pressure head
For Example a pressure of 10 psi can be expressed as equivalent height of
water column as;
10 × 144 /
ℎ= = = 23.1
62.4 /
Similarly a pressure of 68.9 kPa (10 psi) can be expressed as equivalent
height of mercury ( = 133 / )
68.9 /
ℎ= = = 0.518 = 518
133 /

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