Chapter 2

Fluid Statics

I`TRODUCTION
The term pnesskre refers to the effects of a force acting against and distributed over a surface. The
he may be exerted by a Solid, liquid, or gas. Often, the force causing a pressure is simply the weight
- a material.
Pressure i§ a very inportant factor in many fluid mechanics and hydraulics problems. As will tie
riled subsequently in this chapter, pressure exelled by a fluid varies directly with depth. Hence, the
pesue at the bottom of a dam is considerably greater than that near the top of the dam, and enormous
pssures can act on a submarine at the ocean's bottom. Needless to say, pressure effects such as these
msl be taken into account in designing structures such as dams and submarines.

fl.Lm pREssuRE
Fluid pressure is transmitted with equal intensity in all directions and acts normal to any plane. In
- same horizontal plane the pressure intensities in a liquid are equal. Measurements of unit pressures
ae accomplished by using various foms of gages. Unless otherwise stated, gage or relative pres-
-s will be used thoughout this book. Gage pressures represent values above or below atmospheric
peure.

l`TT PRESSURE OR PRESSURE is expressed as force divided by area. In genel.al.

dF
P_-wiA
hasure is commonly given in units of lb/ft2 (pst), lb/in2 (psi), or Pa (N/m2), depending on units of
flue and area.
For conditions where force F is unifomly distnbuted over an area, we have

F
ra + ri

HFERENCE IN PRESSURE
Difference in pressure between any two points at different levels in a liquid is given by

p 2 - P , -- Y ( h 2 - h l ) (/)
th y = unit weight of the liquid and rfe2 -rfei = difference in elevation.
Ifpoint1isinthefreesurfaceoftheliquidandAispositivedownward,theaboveequationbecomes

P-Yh (ga.ge) (2)

These equations are applicable as long as y is constant (or varies so slightly with fe as to cause no
+ifica|it error in the result).

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