Pressure

Principles of Pressure in Liquids

CC 3D Physics- Pressure P.Kirby

 All liquids and gases are fluids. A solid
exerts pressure on a surface due to
its weight. Similarly, fluids have
weight, and they also exert pressure
Pressur on the base and walls of the container
in which they are enclosed.
e in
Fluids Pressure exerted in any confined
mass of fluid is transmitted
undiminished in all directions.

CC 3D Physics- Pressure P.Kirby

 Pressure in a liquid
Pressure in a liquid:
● acts in all directions;
● increases with depth.

A liquid can be used to transmit

pressure from one place to
another.

CC 3D Physics- Pressure P.Kirby

Principles of • 1. Pressure in a liquid
increases with depth
Pressure in • 2. Pressure in a liquid acts
equally in all directions
liquids • 3. The greater the density
of the liquid, the greater
the pressure at a certain
depth.

CC 3D Physics- Pressure P.Kirby

 Formula for
Pressure in Liquids

•pressure (p) is measured in pascals (Pa)

•density (ρ) is measured in kilograms per
metre cubed (kg/m3)
•The fore of gravitational field strength (g)
is measured in N/kg or m/s 2
•height of column (h) is measured in
metres (m)
The symbol ρ is the Greek letter rho - it is pronounced ‘row’.

CC 3D Physics- Pressure P.Kirby

 Pressure in a liquid
The relationship between pressure and depth is shown
by a water bottle with holes along its length.

low pressure

high pressure

Pressure (N/m2) = 9.8 m/s2x depth (m) x density (kg/m3)

The pull The greater the The denser the liquid,

of gravity depth, the higher the heavier it is.
the pressure
CC 3D Physics- Pressure P.Kirby
 Note that
Calculated example 1 sometimes you are
given the average
g which is the
acceleration due to
gravity as (10m/s2)

• What is the pressure in the water at the base of a 10 m high

dam wall?
• In this case, given that acceleration due to gravity = 10m/s2
• Using the formula density of liquid (ρ) x g x depth (h)
• Pressure due to water = 10 x 10 x1000 = 100 000 Pa
(This ignores the pressure of the air on top of the water).

CC 3D Physics- Pressure P.Kirby

Calculated Example 2
• The density of water is 1,000 kg/3. Calculate the pressure
exerted by the water on the bottom of a 2.0 m deep
swimming pool. (Gravitational field strength = 9.8 N/kg).

• 9.8 x 1000 x2
• Pressure = 19600Pa

CC 3D Physics- Pressure P.Kirby

Calculated example 3
• A stone is dropped into a lake. Calculate the increase in
pressure on the stone caused by the water when it sinks
from 1 m deep to 6 m deep. (The density of water is 1,000
kg/m3 and gravitational field strength is 9.8 N/kg).
• Change in depth = 6-1 = 5m
• Pressure = ρgh
•Pressure = 1000 x 9.8 x 5 = 49,000 Pa

CC 3D Physics- Pressure P.Kirby

Transposition Application
At a depth of 12.5 m of a chemical solvent the pressure at
the bottom of the storage tank due to the solvent was
306000Pa

Calculate density of the solvent.

P = ρgh, rearranging gives ρ = P/hg 

= 306000/(12.5 x 9.8)
= the density of the solvent =2498 kg/m3
CC 3D Physics- Pressure P.Kirby