1. What is Hydrostatic Pressure?

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to the force of gravity. It increases in proportion to depth measured from the surface because of the increasing weight of fluid exerting downward force from above.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the hydrostatic pressure formula:

Where:

• \( P_g \) — Hydrostatic pressure (Pascals)
• \( \rho \) — Fluid density (kg/m³)
• \( g \) — Gravitational acceleration (m/s²)
• \( h \) — Depth/height of fluid column (m)

Explanation: The pressure at any point in a static fluid depends only on the depth, fluid density, and gravitational acceleration at that point.

3. Importance of Hydrostatic Pressure Calculation

Details: Hydrostatic pressure calculations are crucial in various engineering applications including dam design, submarine operations, blood pressure measurement, and hydraulic systems. It helps determine structural requirements and safety factors.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter fluid density in kg/m³ (water ≈ 1000 kg/m³), gravitational acceleration in m/s² (Earth ≈ 9.81 m/s²), and depth in meters. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does hydrostatic pressure depend on container shape?
A: No, hydrostatic pressure depends only on depth, density, and gravity, not on the shape or size of the container.

Q2: What is the pressure at 10m depth in water?
A: Using ρ=1000 kg/m³, g=9.81 m/s², h=10m: P = 1000 × 9.81 × 10 = 98,100 Pa or approximately 0.981 bar.

Q3: How does salinity affect hydrostatic pressure?
A: Saltwater has higher density (≈1025 kg/m³) than freshwater, so at the same depth, pressure will be about 2.5% higher in seawater.

Q4: Is atmospheric pressure included in this calculation?
A: No, this calculates only the pressure due to the fluid column. Total pressure would be atmospheric pressure plus hydrostatic pressure.

Q5: What are common units for pressure measurement?
A: Pascals (Pa) are the SI unit, but other common units include bar (1 bar = 100,000 Pa), psi (pounds per square inch), and mmHg (millimeters of mercury).