Lesson 4: Hydrostatic Pressure

Osunero, Kim John S.

BSED 2D

October 9, 2020

Let Us Apply

1. If a certain sea creature can withstand hydrostatic pressure of 80 300 kPa, how deep can it
go without being squashed by the pressure?

Formula P= ρhg

Given P=80300 kPa

3
ρ Water =1000 kg /m

2
g=9.8 m/s

Find h

P
Derived formula h=
ρg

First,convert 80 300 kPa to Pa

80 300 kPa 1 000 Pa

× =80 300 000 Pa
1 1kPa

1 kg
Unit dimension of 1 Pa=
m∙ s 2

P
h=
ρg

kg
/kg
m∙ s 2 m
m= 3
∙ 2
m s
 kg
2
/kg
m∙ s
m=
m2 s 2

kg m2 s2
m= ×
m∙ s2 kg

m=m

kg
So 80 300 000 Pa is the same as 80 300 000 2
m∙s

kg 3 2
h=80 300 000 2
/(1 000 kg /m )(9.8 m/s )
m∙s

h=8 193.877 m

The certain sea creature can go at the depth of 8 193. 877 m without being squashed by the
pressure.

Let’s Evaluate

1. A cylindrical tank with a cross-sectional area of 2 m2 contains water 4 m high. Find

the pressure of the water at the bottom of the tank.

Formula P= ρhg

Given

kg
ρ=1000
m3

h=4 m

2
g=9.8 m/s

Solution P= ρhg
 (
¿ 1000
kg
m
3 ) ( ) m
( 4 m ) 9.8 2
s

¿ 39 200 Pa

3
¿ 39. 2×10 Pa

Let’s Continually Learn

1. What is the difference in the blood pressure between the top of the head and the
bottom of the feet of a 1.5 m tall man standing erect? Note that the density of blood is 1 060
kg/m3.

Formula P= ρhg

kg
Given ρ=1060 3
m

h=15 m

m
g=9.8
s2

Solution P= ρhg

(
¿ 1060
kg
m
3 ) ( ) m
( 15 m ) 9.8 2
s

¿ 15 582 Pa

The difference in the blood pressure between the top of the head and the bottom of the
feet of a 1.5 m tall man standing erect is 15 582 Pa . The difference in blood pressure between
the top of the head and the bottom of the feet is affected by by the blood flow in the body
regulated by the circulatory system of a human being as well as the position of the human
being. Since, the person is standing, the pressure in the feet will be greater than on the top of
the head because the pressure, being exerted by a liquid, increases with depth.