1.2 Fluid Statics
5
1.2.4 Hydrostatic Pressure
This type of pressure is due to a column of fluid on an object. The equation by which
it is governed can be easily obtained from the weight (W ) and density (ρ) of a mass
(m) of air contained in a column of height (h) over its base area
3 (A) (Fig. 1.3).
This relationship is expressed mathematically as:
P =
W
A
=
mg
A
=
ρV g
A
=
ρ Ahg
A
Then, finally (Eq. 1.7):
P = ρgh
(1.7)
h
A
W
Fig. 1.3 Force exerted by a fluid prism on its base
3 Note that, although surface (S) denotes the topological object and area (A) its measurement, we
do not make any distinctions in this text for simplicity reasons.
5
1.2.4 Hydrostatic Pressure
This type of pressure is due to a column of fluid on an object. The equation by which
it is governed can be easily obtained from the weight (W ) and density (ρ) of a mass
(m) of air contained in a column of height (h) over its base area
3 (A) (Fig. 1.3).
This relationship is expressed mathematically as:
P =
W
A
=
mg
A
=
ρV g
A
=
ρ Ahg
A
Then, finally (Eq. 1.7):
P = ρgh
(1.7)
h
A
W
Fig. 1.3 Force exerted by a fluid prism on its base
3 Note that, although surface (S) denotes the topological object and area (A) its measurement, we
do not make any distinctions in this text for simplicity reasons.