PRESENTED BY: JOHN LESTER D.

MONES
WHAT TO EXPECT?
After the completion of the chapter, students will
be able to:
• Convert pressure from one unit to another.
• Determine the variation of pressure in a fluid at rest.
• Identify commonly used pressure measurement
device.
TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
• Pressure: A Fluid Property
• Pressure at a point
• Variation of pressure with depth
• Pressure measurement devices
PRESSURE
• Pressure is defined as a normal force exerted
by a fluid per unit area.

• Its SI unit is the Pascal.

1 Pa = 1 N/m2
PRESSURE
• Pressure Units
1 kPa = 103 Pa
1 MPa = 106 Pa
1 bar = 105 Pa = 0.1 MPa = 100 kPa
1 atm = 101,325 Pa = 101.325 kPa = 1.01325 bars
1 kgf/cm2 = 9.807 N/cm2
= 9.807 ×104 Pa
= 0.9807 bar
= 0.9679 atm
PRESSURE
• In the English system, the pressure unit is pound-force per
square inch (lbf/in2 or psi).

1 atm = 14.696 psi

1 kgf/cm2 = 14.223 psi

PRESSURE
• The normal stress (or “pressure”) on the feet of a chubby
person is much greater than on the feet of a slim person.
150 pounds 300 pounds

𝐴feet = 50 in2

𝑃 = 3 psi 𝑃 = 6 psi
𝑊 150 lbf
𝑃 = 𝜎𝑛 = = = 3 psi
𝐴feet 50 in2
PRESSURE
• Absolute pressure – actual pressure at a given
position.

• Gage pressure – difference between the absolute

pressure and the local atmospheric pressure.
• Vacuum pressure – pressures below atmospheric
pressure.
PRESSURE
Absolute, gage, and vacuum pressures are
related to each other by:

Pgage = Pabs − Patm

Pvac = Patm − Pabs

Pvac = Patm − Pabs = −Pgage

• The common reading of 32.0 psi (2.25 kgf/cm2) indicates a
pressure of 32.0 psi above the atmospheric pressure.
• A location where the atmospheric pressure is 14.3 psi, for
example, the absolute pressure in the tire is 32.0 + 14.3 = 46.3
psi.
• Pressure P will denote absolute pressure unless specified
otherwise.
• Often the letters “a” (for absolute pressure) and “g” (for gage
pressure) are added to pressure units (such as psia and psig) to
clarify what is meant.
SAMPLE PROBLEM NO. 1
A vacuum gage connected to a chamber reads 5.8 psi at a location where
the atmospheric pressure is 14.5 psi. Determine the absolute pressure in the
chamber.

𝑃abs = 𝑃atm − 𝑃vac

𝑃abs = 14.5 − 5.8
𝑷𝒂𝒃𝒔 = 𝟖. 𝟕 𝐩𝐬𝐢
BRAIN EXERCISE NO. 1
A vacuum gage connected to a chamber reads 36 kPa at a location where
the atmospheric pressure is 92 kPa. Determine the absolute pressure in the chamber.

ANSWER(S)
𝑷 = 𝟓𝟔 𝐤𝐏𝐚
PRESSURE at a POINT
• Pressure at any point in a
fluid is the same in all
directions.

• Applicable to fluids in
motion as well as fluids at
rest since pressure is a
scalar, not a vector.
Variation of PRESSURE with DEPTH
• Pressure in a fluid increases with depth.
Variation of PRESSURE with DEPTH
• The variation of pressure with elevation in a fluid at
rest is given by:

𝒅𝑷
= −𝝆𝐠
𝒅𝒛

• dP is negative when dz is positive since pressure

decreases in an upward direction.
Variation of PRESSURE with DEPTH
• Pressure difference between any two points

𝟐
∆𝑷 = 𝑷𝟐 − 𝑷𝟏 = − න 𝝆𝐠 𝒅𝒛
𝟏

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
∆𝑷 = 𝑷𝟐 − 𝑷𝟏 = −𝝆𝐠 ∆𝒛 = −𝜸𝒔 ∆𝒛
(For constant density and constant gravitational acceleration)
Variation of PRESSURE with DEPTH
• An easier equation to remember and apply
between any two points:

𝑷𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 = 𝑷𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 + 𝝆𝐠 ∆𝒛
s

- or –
s

𝑷𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘 = 𝑷𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆 + 𝜸𝒔 ∆𝒛

• ∆𝑧 = pressure head
Variation of PRESSURE with DEPTH

𝑷𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 = 𝑷𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 + 𝝆𝐠 ∆𝒛

𝑷 = 𝑷𝐚𝐭𝐦 + 𝝆𝐠𝒉
Variation of PRESSURE with DEPTH

𝑷𝑨 = 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒎 + 𝝆𝐠𝒉
𝑷𝑨 = 𝑷𝑩 = 𝑷𝑪 = 𝑷𝑫 = 𝑷𝑬 = 𝑷𝑭 = 𝑷𝑮 = 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒎 + 𝝆𝐠𝒉
𝑷𝑯 ≠ 𝑷𝑰
PRESSURE
• Pascal’s law states that the pressure applied to a
confined fluid increases the pressure throughout by the
same amount.
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT DEVICES
• Barometer
• Manometer
• Bourdon tube
• Pressure transducers
• Strain-gage pressure transducers
• Piezoelectric transducers
• Deadweight tester
BAROMETER
• device used to measure
atmospheric pressure.

• atmospheric pressure =
barometric pressure.

• in honor of Evangelista
Torricelli
BAROMETER
• 𝑃atm = 𝜌gℎ

• 1 atm = 760 mmHg = 29.92 inHg

• If water instead of mercury were

used, 10.3 m would be needed.

• 1 mmHg = 1 torr 𝟏 𝐚𝐭𝐦 = 𝟕𝟔𝟎 𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐫

𝟏 𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐫 = 𝟏𝟑𝟑. 𝟑 𝐏𝐚
SAMPLE PROBLEM NO. 2
Determine the atmospheric pressure at a location where the barometric
reading is 740 mm Hg and the gravitational acceleration is g = 9.805 m/s2. Assume
the temperature of mercury to be 10°C, at which its density is 13,570 kg/m3.
Given: Atmospheric pressure:
𝑇 = 10℃ 𝑃atm = 𝜌gℎ
𝜌 = 13,570 kg/m3 𝑃atm = (13,570 kg/m3 )(9.805 m/s 2 )(0.740 m)
1N 1 kPa
1 kg∙m/s2 1000 N/m2
g = 9.805 m/s 2
ℎ = 740 mm 𝑷𝐚𝐭𝐦 = 𝟗𝟖. 𝟓 𝐤𝐏𝐚

Required:
𝑃atm
SAMPLE PROBLEM NO. 3
Intravenous infusions usually are driven by gravity by hanging the fluid bottle
at sufficient height to counteract the blood pressure in the vein and to force the fluid
into the body. The higher the bottle is raised, the higher the flow rate of the fluid will
be. Take the density of the fluid to be 1020 kg/m3.
a) If it is observed that the fluid and the blood pressures balance each other when the
bottle is 1.2 m above the arm level, determine the gage pressure of the blood.
b) If the gage pressure of the fluid at the arm level needs to be 20 kPa for sufficient
flow rate, determine how high the bottle must be placed.
SAMPLE PROBLEM NO. 3
a) If it is observed that the fluid and the blood pressures balance each other when the
bottle is 1.2 m above the arm level, determine the gage pressure of the blood.
Given:
𝜌 = 1020 kg/m3
ℎ = 1.2 m

Required:
𝑃gage,arm

Gage pressure of the blood:

𝑃gage,arm = 𝑃abs − 𝑃atm = 𝜌gℎarm−bottle
1 kN 1 kPa
𝑃gage,arm = 1020 kg/m3 9.81 m/s2 1.20 m
1000 kg ∙ m/s 2 1 kN/m2
𝑷𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞,𝒂𝒓𝒎 = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟎 𝐤𝐏𝐚
SAMPLE PROBLEM NO. 3
b) If the gage pressure of the fluid at the arm level needs to be 20 kPa for sufficient
flow rate, determine how high the bottle must be placed.
Given:
𝑃gage,arm = 20 kPa

Required:
ℎarm−bottle

Gage pressure of the blood:

𝑃gage,arm
ℎarm−bottle =
𝜌g
20 kPa 1000 kg ∙ m/s 2 1 kN/m2
ℎarm−bottle =
1020 kg/m3 9.81 m/s 2 1 kN 1 kPa
𝒉𝐚𝐫𝐦−𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎 𝐦
MANOMETER
• used to measure small and
moderate pressure differences.

• consists of a glass or plastic U-tube

containing one or more fluids such
as mercury, water, alcohol, or oil.
MANOMETER
• the pressure anywhere in the
tank and at position 1 has the
same value.

• 𝑃2 = 𝑃1

• 𝑃2 = 𝑃atm + 𝜌gℎ
SAMPLE PROBLEM NO. 4
A manometer is used to measure the pressure
of a gas in a tank. The fluid used has a specific gravity of
0.85, and the manometer column height is 55 cm. If the
local atmospheric pressure is 96 kPa, determine the
absolute pressure within the tank.

Specific gravity:
𝜌 = 𝑆𝐺 𝜌H2 O = 0.85 1000 kg/m3 = 850 kg/m3

Absolute pressure within the tank:

𝑃 = 𝑃atm + 𝜌gℎ
1N 1 kPa
𝑃 = 96 kPa + 850 kg/m3 9.81 m/s2 0.55 m
1 kg∙m/s2 1000 N/m2
𝑷 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎. 𝟔 𝐤𝐏𝐚
MANOMETER
Many engineering problems and some
manometers involve multiple immiscible fluids of
different densities stacked on top of each other.
MANOMETER
These systems can be analyzed easily by
remembering that:
1. The pressure change across a fluid column of
height h is ∆𝑃 = 𝜌gℎ.
2. Pressure increases downward in a given fluid and
decreases upward (i.e., 𝑃bottom > 𝑃top ).
3. Two points at the same elevation in a continuous
fluid at rest are at the same pressure.
MANOMETER
• Pressure at the bottom of the
tank, 𝑷𝟏

𝑃atm + 𝜌1 gℎ1 + 𝜌2 gℎ2 + 𝜌3 gℎ3 = 𝑃1

If all fluids having the same density:

𝑃atm + 𝜌g(ℎ1 + ℎ2 + ℎ3 ) = 𝑃1
BRAIN EXERCISE NO. 2
An open tank contains water up to a depth of 2 m and above it an oil of
specific gravity 0.9 for a depth of 1 m. Find the pressure at the bottom of the tank.

ANSWER(S)
𝑾 = 𝟐𝟖. 𝟓 𝐤𝐏𝐚
SAMPLE PROBLEM NO. 5
The water in a tank is pressurized by air, and the pressure is measured by a
multifluid manometer. The tank is located on a mountain at an altitude of 1400 m
where the atmospheric pressure is 85.6 kPa. Determine the air pressure in the tank if
𝒉𝟏 = 𝟎. 𝟏 𝐦, 𝒉𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟐 𝐦, and 𝒉𝟑 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓 𝐦. Take the densities of water, oil, and
mercury to be 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐠/𝐦𝟑, 𝟖𝟓𝟎 𝐤𝐠/𝐦𝟑, and 𝟏𝟑, 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐠/𝐦𝟑 , respectively.
Given:
𝜌water = 1000 kg/m3
𝜌oil = 850 kg/m3
𝜌mercury = 13600 kg/m3
Air pressure in tank, 𝑃1:
𝑃1 + 𝜌water gℎ1 + 𝜌oil gℎ2 − 𝜌mercury gℎ3 = 𝑃2 = 𝑃atm
𝑃1 = 𝑃atm − 𝜌water gℎ1 − 𝜌oil gℎ2 + 𝜌mercury gℎ3
𝑃1 = 𝑃atm + g 𝜌mercury ℎ3 − 𝜌water ℎ1 − 𝜌oil ℎ2
SAMPLE PROBLEM NO. 5
The water in a tank is pressurized by air, and the pressure is measured by a
multifluid manometer. The tank is located on a mountain at an altitude of 1400 m
where the atmospheric pressure is 85.6 kPa. Determine the air pressure in the tank if
𝒉𝟏 = 𝟎. 𝟏 𝐦, 𝒉𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟐 𝐦, and 𝒉𝟑 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓 𝐦. Take the densities of water, oil, and
mercury to be 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐠/𝐦𝟑, 𝟖𝟓𝟎 𝐤𝐠/𝐦𝟑, and 𝟏𝟑, 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐠/𝐦𝟑 , respectively.
Air pressure in tank, 𝑃1:
𝑃1 = 𝑃atm + g 𝜌mercury ℎ3 − 𝜌water ℎ1 − 𝜌oil ℎ2
13,600 kg/m3 0.35 m
1N 1 kPa
𝑃1 = 85.6 kPa + 9.81 m/s 2 − 1000 kg/m3 0.1 m
1 kg ∙ m/s 2 1000 N/m2
− 850 kg/m3 0.2 m
𝑷𝟏 = 𝟏𝟑𝟎 𝐤𝐏𝐚
BRAIN EXERCISE NO. 3
The lower half of a 14-m-high cylindrical container is filled with water (𝜌 =
1000 kg/m3) and the upper half with oil that has a specific gravity of 0.85. Determine
the pressure difference between the top and bottom of the cylinder.

ANSWER(S)
𝑷 = 𝟏𝟐𝟕 𝐤𝐏𝐚
BRAIN EXERCISE NO. 4
The barometer of a mountain hiker reads 980 mbars at the beginning of a
hiking trip and 790 mbars at the end. Neglecting the effect of altitude on local
gravitational acceleration, determine the vertical distance climbed. Assume an
average air density of 1.20 kg/m3.

ANSWER(S)
𝒉 = 𝟏𝟔𝟏𝟒 𝐦
BRAIN EXERCISE NO. 5
The water in a tank is pressurized by
air, and the pressure is measured by a multifluid
manometer as shown in figure. Determine the
gage pressure of air in the tank if 𝒉𝟏 = 𝟎. 𝟒 𝐦,
𝒉𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟔 𝐦 , and 𝒉𝟑 = 𝟎. 𝟖 𝐦 . Take the
densities of water, oil, and mercury to be 1000
kg/m3, 850 kg/m3, and 13,600 kg/m3,
respectively.

ANSWER(S)
𝑷 = 𝟗𝟕. 𝟖 𝐤𝐏𝐚
BRAIN EXERCISE NO. 6
A hydraulic press has a ram of 30 cm diameter and a plunger of 4.5 cm
diameter. Find the weight lifted by the hydraulic press when the force applied at the
plunger is 500 N.
ANSWER(S)
𝑾 = 𝟐𝟐. 𝟐𝟐 𝐤𝐍
OTHER PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
DEVICES

Bourdon tube Pressure Strain-gage pressure

transducer transducers
OTHER PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
DEVICES

Piezoelectric Deadweight
transducers tester