GEEKSFORGEEKS

Hydrostatic Pressure
Hydrostatic pressure can be stated as the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the
fluid, due to the force of gravity. Hydrostatic pressure is proportional to the depth measured from the surface as
the weight of the fluid increases with a downward force applied.

The fluid pressure can be caused by gravity, acceleration, or forces when in a closed container. Consider a
container filled with water or any other fluid along with a ball in the bottom. Now consider the ball from the top of
the container. There is pressure exerted by the layer of water acting on the ball. As we move down from the top of
the container to the bottom, the pressure exerted by the top layer on the ball adds up. This phenomenon is
responsible for more pressure at the bottom of the container.

As we can see in the above figure a ball is completely submerged in a fluid. Here force applied by the fluid on the
ball equals to Hydrostatic pressure. Top Layer of the fluid exerts the most pressure on the ball. When we move the
ball upside, the pressure applied by the top layer starts to reduce.

Fluid pressure

Fluid pressure can be defined as the pressure on a given object on the surface of a closed container or in the
fluid. Gravity, acceleration, or forces outside the container, are the factors that cause the pressure.

Pressure is a scalar quantity that is stated as force per unit area. Here force acts in the direction perpendicular to
the surface. Depending on the context of use, there are a number of units in which pressure can be measured.

Pressure = Force/ Area

P=F/A

Where

P = Pressure

F = Force

A = Area

Unit of pressure is N/m2 or Pa (Pascal).

Formulae of Hydrostatic Pressure

Let us derive the formula for Pressure on an object submerged in a fluid.

We know that,

Pressure = Force/Area = F/A & Force = mass x acceleration = m × g (acceleration due to gravity)

So: Pressure = F/A = mg/A ……………. (1)

Now Density = Mass/Volume;

So, Mass= Density x Volume ……………. (2)

From equation 1 & 2,

Pressure = (density x volume x acceleration)/area.

P = (ρ * g * v)/A

P=ρ*g*h

Here

h = v/A = Height of fluid above the object

ρ (rho) is the density of the fluid,

g is the acceleration of gravity

Pressure on an object submerged in a fluid is-

P=ρ*g*h

Sample Problems

Problem 1. A scuba driver is diving 10 meters below the surface of the ocean. Find the pressure on the

driver assuming the standard atmospheric conditions. Use the density of sea water = 1.03 X 103 kg/m3

and the atmospheric pressure of 1.01 x 105 N/m2.

Solution:

Pfluid = r g h

= (1.03 x103 kg/m3) (9.8 m/s2) (10 m)

= 1.09 × 105 N/m2.

Ptotal = Patmosphere + Pfluid

= (1.01 × 105) + (1.09 × 105) Pa

= 2.10 × 105 Pa (Pascal)

Problem 2. At a point in a pond pressure of water is 1.03 x105. What is the depth of that point from the
surface of water?

Solution:
 Pfluid = r g h

= (1.03 x103 kg/m3) (10 m/s2) (10 m)

= 1.03 x 105 N/m2.

Problem 3. We have a swimming pool that is 3 meters in depth. Calculate the amount of pressure at the
bottom of the swimming pool.

Solution:

Pfluid = r g h

= (1.03 × 103 kg/m3) (9.8 m/s2) (3 m)

= 3.63 × 104 N/m2.

Ptotal = Patmosphere + Pfluid

= (1.01 × 105) + (3.63 × 104) Pa

= 1.37 × 105 Pa (Pascal)

Buoyancy and its Effects

Buoyancy is a phenomenon caused due to buoyant force that tenses an object to float. When you put an object in
a liquid, an upward force is exerted on the object by the liquid, this force is equal to the weight of the liquid that
has been displaced. The amount of liquid that has been displaced depends upon the density and the volume of
the object immersed in the liquid.

Buoyancy can be defined as an upward force exerted on an object that is completely or partially submerged in
liquid. The unit of the buoyant force is Newton.

It depends upon two factors:

1. Amount (Volume) of liquid displaced by object

2. The density of the object, Fb = ρ g V

Iron nail is very less in volume so, it displaces a very less amount of water. It causes less buoyant force in the
upward direction therefore it sinks. Whereas ships have more volume and displace more water, therefore it
causes greater buoyant force in the upward direction by water and it floats.

Sample Problems

Problem 1. We have a swimming pool that is 3 meters in depth. Calculate the amount of pressure at the
bottom of the swimming pool.

Solution:

Pfluid = r g h

= (1.03 × 103 kg/m3) (9.8 m/s2) (3 m)

 = 3.63 × 104 N/m2.

Ptotal = Patmosphere + Pfluid

= (1.01 × 105) + (3.63 × 104) Pa

= 1.37 × 105 Pa (Pascal)

Problem 2. Weight of an object in the air is 200 N. The object is placed in a liquid. Increase in volume of

liquid is 2.5 m3. If specific weight of the liquid is 10 N/m3, what is the weight of the object in liquid?

Solution:

Object’s weight in liquid = object’s weight in air – buoyant force

Object’s weight in liquid = 100 N – buoyant force

Fb = ρ g V

The density of liquid is 1 kg/m3

Fb = ρ g V

= (1 kg/m3)(10 m/s2)(2.5 m3)

= 25kg m/s2

= 25 N

Object’s weight in fluid = 200 N – 25 N = 175N

Problem 3. An object that is having volume of 40 cm3and the mass of object is 72 g. Density of water is 1

gcm-3. Will this object float on water or sink in water?

Solution:

Density = Mass/Volume

= 72/40 = 1.8

Density of object is more than density of water, so object will sink in the water.

Article Tags : Class 8 School Learning School Physics

Read Full Article

Company Explore Languages DSA Data Science & HTML & CSS
About Us Job-A-Thon Hiring Python Data Structures ML HTML
A-143, 9th Floor, Sovereign Corporate Challenge Data Science With
Legal Java Algorithms CSS
Tower, Sector-136, Noida, Uttar
Hack-A-Thon Python
Pradesh - 201305 Careers C++ DSA for Beginners Web Templates
GfG Weekly Data Science For
In Media PHP Basic DSA CSS Frameworks
Contest Beginner
Contact Us Problems
GoLang Machine Learning Bootstrap
Offline Classes
Advertise with us DSA Roadmap
(Delhi/NCR) SQL Tutorial Tailwind CSS
GFG Corporate Top 100 DSA
DSA in JAVA/C++ R Language ML Maths SASS
Solution Interview Problems
Master System Android Tutorial Data Visualisation LESS
Placement Training DSA Roadmap by
Design Tutorial
Tutorials Archive Sandeep Jain Web Design
Program
Master CP Pandas Tutorial
All Cheat Sheets
GeeksforGeeks NumPy Tutorial
Videos NLP Tutorial
Geeks Community Deep Learning
Tutorial
 Python Computer DevOps Competitive System Design JavaScript

Python Science Git Programming High Level Design JavaScript

Programming GATE CS Notes Top DS or Algo for Examples
AWS Low Level Design
Examples CP
Operating Systems TypeScript
Docker UML Diagrams
Django Tutorial Top 50 Tree
Computer Network ReactJS
Kubernetes Interview Guide
Python Projects Top 50 Graph
Database NextJS
Azure Design Patterns
Python Tkinter Management Top 50 Array AngularJS
GCP OOAD
Web Scraping System
Top 50 String NodeJS
DevOps Roadmap System Design
OpenCV Python Software
Top 50 DP Bootcamp Lodash
Tutorial Engineering
Top 15 Websites for Interview Questions Web Browser
Python Interview Digital Logic Design
CP
Question Engineering Maths

NCERT School Commerce UPSC Study SSC/ BANKING Colleges

Solutions Subjects Accountancy Material SSC CGL Syllabus Indian Colleges
Class 12 Mathematics Polity Notes SBI PO Syllabus Admission &
Business Studies
Campus
Class 11 Physics Economics Geography Notes SBI Clerk Syllabus
Experiences
Class 10 Chemistry Management History Notes IBPS PO Syllabus
List of Central
Class 9 Biology Science and IBPS Clerk Syllabus Universities - In
HR Management
Technology Notes India
Class 8 Social Science Finance SSC CGL Practice
Economy Notes Papers Colleges in Delhi
Complete Study English Grammar Income Tax
Material Ethics Notes University

Previous Year IIT Colleges

Papers NIT Colleges

IIIT Colleges

Companies Preparation Exams More Tutorials Free Online Write & Earn
META Owned Corner JEE Mains Software Tools Write an Article
Companies Development Typing Test
Company-Wise JEE Advanced Improve an Article
Alphabhet Owned Recruitment Software Testing Image Editor
GATE CS Pick Topics to Write
Companies Process Product
NEET Code Formatters Share your
TATA Group Owned Resume Templates Management
Code Converters Experiences
UGC NET
Companies Aptitude SAP
Currency Converter Internships
Reliance Owned Preparation SEO - Search
Companies Random Number
Puzzles Engine Optimization
Generator
Fintech Companies Company-Wise Linux
Random Password
EdTech Companies Preparation Excel Generator

@GeeksforGeeks, Sanchhaya Education Private Limited, All rights reserved Open In App