NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Bachelor in Secondary Education Program

Independent Learning Module (ILM) # 6

SES 4/ SEPH 4
(Fluid Mechanics)
Date:
Semester: 2nd

UNIT 3. FLUID STATICS

TOPIC: PASCAL’S PRINCIPLE
Learning Targets:
1. State Pascals' principle;
2. Recognize some applications of Pascal's principle; and
3. Performed problem-solving tasks involving Pascal's principle
Reference/s:
Padua,A.&Crisostomo,R. Practical and Explorational Physics (Modular Approach).Vibal Publishing
House, Inc.2007
Sotto.R.Physics. SIBS Publishing House,Inc. 2006

Concept:
A static fluid is a fluid that is not in motion. When a fluid is not flowing, we say that the fluid
is in static equilibrium. If the fluid is water, we say it is in hydrostatic equilibrium. For a fluid
in static equilibrium, the net force on any part of the fluid must be zero; otherwise, the fluid will
start to flow.

One of the most important facts about fluid pressure is that a change in pressure at one part
of the fluid will be transmitted undiminished to other parts.

Let us consider a fluid inside a closed container with a

tightly fitted piston (Figure 1). If a weight is placed on the
piston, the weight will exert a pressure on top of the fluid.
This pressure exerted at the top of the fluid is
transmitted in the same amount everywhere in the fluid.

This transmission of pressure in fluid was

investigated in the mid-1600s by Blaise Pascal. His work
is summarized in what is known as Pascal’s principle. Figure 1

Pascal's Principle

Pascal's principle (also known as Pascal's law) states that when a change in pressure is applied
to an enclosed fluid, it is transmitted undiminished to all portions of the fluid and to the walls of its
container. In an enclosed fluid, since atoms of the fluid are free to move about, they transmit
pressure to all parts of the fluid and to the walls of the container. Any change in pressure is
transmitted undiminished.

Note that this principle does not say that the pressure is the same at all points of fluid since
the pressure in a fluid near-Earth varies with height. Rather, this principle applies to the change
in pressure. Suppose you place some water in a cylindrical container of height H and
cross-sectional area A that has a movable piston of mass m (Figure 2). Adding weight (mg) at the
top of the piston increases the pressure at the top by mg/A, since the additional weight also acts
over area A of the lid:
 ΔPtop = mg
mg
A

(a) (b)

Figure 2: Pressure in fluid changes when the fluid is compressed. (a) The pressure at the top layer
of the fluid is different from the pressure at the bottom layer. (b) The increase in pressure by adding
weight to the piston is the same everywhere, for example, Ptop new − Ptop =Pbottom new − Pbottom.

According to Pascal's principle, the pressure at all points in the water changes by the same
amount. Thus, the pressure at the bottom also increases by mg/A. The pressure at the bottom of
the container is equal to the sum of the atmospheric pressure, the pressure due to the fluid, and
the pressure supplied by the mass. The change in pressure at the bottom of the container due to
the mass is

ΔPtop = mg.
A

Since the pressure changes are the same everywhere in the fluid, we no longer need
subscripts to designate the pressure change for top or bottom:

ΔP = ΔPtop = ΔPbottom = ΔPeverywhere

What happens when you squeeze a tube of toothpaste?

When you squeeze a tube of toothpaste, you demonstrate Pascal's principle. The pressure
your fingers exert at the bottom or at the middle of the tube is transmitted through the toothpaste,
forcing the paste out at the top.

https://slideplayer.com/slide/7271817/

Applications of Pascal's Principle and Hydraulic Systems

Pascal's principle is the basis of the operation of a hydraulic press. A hydraulic press consists
of a small cylinder and a big cylinder connected by a fluid system. Each cylinder has a tightly
fitted piston ( Figure 3).
 Figure 3. Hydraulic system

Let us assume that the cross-sectional area of the small piston is A1 and that of the big piston
is A2. If a force F1 is applied on the small piston, it produces a pressure on the small piston equal
to

P1 = F1
A1

According to Pascal's principle, this pressure is transmitted undiminished throughout the

fluid and to all containers' walls. Thus, a pressure P 2 is felt at the other piston that is equal to P1.
That is, P1 = P2. However, since P2 = F2, we see that
A2

F1 = F2
A1 A2

where
F1 = force acting on the small piston
F2 = force acting on the big piston
A1 = cross-sectional area of the small piston
A2 = cross-sectional area of the big piston

For a hydraulic lift,

http://physicspractice.blogspot.com/2009/03/hydr
aulic-lift.html
FIGURE 4. Schematic diagram illustrating
the principle behind the hydraulic lift, a
device used to lift heavy loads
Sample problems:

1. A hydraulic system is used to lift a 2000-kg vehicle in an auto garage. If the vehicle sits on a
piston of area 0.5 m2, and a force is applied to a piston of area 0.03 m2, what is the minimum force
that must be applied to lift the vehicle?

m = 2000kg
Diagram:

A2 =0.5m2
A1 =0.03m2

Solution:

P 1 = P2
F1 = F2
A1 A2

F1 = A1 x F2
A2

F1 = 0.03m2 x (2000kg x 9.8m/s2)

0.5m2
F1 = 1180 N

2. A barber raises his customer's chair by applying a force of 150N to a hydraulic piston of area
0.01 m2. If the chair is attached to a piston of area 0.1 m2, how massive a customer can the chair
raise? Assume the chair itself has a mass of 5 kg.

Solution:

To solve this problem, first, determine the force applied to the larger piston.

F2 = A1 x F1
A2

F2 = 0.10 m2 x 150 N
0.01 m2

F2 = 1500 N

If the maximum force on the chair is 1500N, you can now determine the maximum mass which
can be lifted by recognizing that the force that must be overcome to lift the customer is the force of
gravity; therefore, the applied force on the customer must equal the force of gravity on the
customer.

F = mg

m=F
g

m = 1500 kg·m/s2
9.8 m/s2

m = 153 kg
If the chair has a mass of 5 kilograms, the maximum mass of a customer in the chair must be 148
kg.
3. Figure below shows a hydraulic system. The area of surface X is 5 cm² and the area of surface Y
is 100 cm². Piston X has been pushed down 10cm. what is the change of liquid level, h, at Piston
Y?

Solution:

Distance move by the piston-X, h1 = 10cm

Distance move by the piston-Y, h2 = h
Area of piston-X, A1 = 5 cm²
Area of Piston-Y, A2 = 100 cm²

h1A1=h2A2
(10cm)(5cm2)=h(100cm2)
h=0.5cm

4. A hydraulic lift is to be used to lift a truck masses 5000 kg. If the diameter of the small piston
and large piston of the lift is 5cm and 1 m respectively,

a. what gauge pressure in Pa must be applied to the oil?

b. What is the magnitude of the force required on the small piston to lift the truck?

Solution:
a. Weight of the truck,
W = mg
W = (5000 kg)(9.8 m/s2) = 49,000N

Area of the big piston

A2=Пr2=П(1m)2=3.1416 m2

Pressure of the oil

P = F/A

P = 49,000N /3.1416 m2

P=15,597 Pa

b.Area of the small piston

A1 = Пr2

= П(0.05m)2

= (0.0025)Пm2

A1= 0.0079 m2

According to the Pascal's Principle,

P1 = P2
F1 = F2
A1 A2
 F1 = 50,000N
0.0079 m2 3.1416m2

F1 = 125.73 N

Supplemental videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVEkJ7h1_Oo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqvJ8LuULyI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ6GCH2nLy0

PRACTICE PROBLEMS:

1. In a hydraulic press, the large piston has cross-sectional area A1 =200 cm2 and the small piston
has cross-sectional area A2 = 5.0 cm2. If a force of 250 N is applied to the small piston, find the
force F1 on the large piston.

Answer: 10000 N

2. The area of a piston of a force pump is 8.0 cm2. What force must be applied to the piston to raise
oil (ρoil = 0.78 g/cm3) to a height of 6.0m?

Answer: 36.7 N

3. The diameter of the large piston of a hydraulic press is 20cm, and the area of the small piston is
0.50 cm2. If a force of 400 N is applied to the small piston, What is the resulting force exerted on
the large piston?

Answer: 2.5 x 105 N

4. The small piston of a hydraulic lift has an area of 0.20 m2 . A car weighing 1.2 x 104 N sits on a
rack mounted on the large piston. The large piston has an area of 0.90 m2 . How large force must
be applied to the small piston to support the car?

Answer: 2.7 x 103 N

5. The large piston in a hydraulic lift has a radius of 250 cm 2 . What force must be applied to the
small piston with a radius of 25 cm2 in order to raise a car of mass 1500 kg?

Answer: 1470 N

6. A hydraulic lift consists of a small diameter piston of radius 5 cm, and a large diameter piston
of radius 15 cm. How much force must be exerted on the small diameter piston in order to support
the weight of a car at 13,300 N ?

Answer: 1.48 x 103 N

7. In a hydraulic system the large piston has a cross-sectional area A2 = 200 cm² and the small
piston has cross-sectional area A1 = 5 cm². If a force of 250 N is applied to the small piston
a. What is the pressure exerted on the small piston? Answer: 50N/cm2
b. What is the force F, produced on the large piston? Answer: 10,000N