PHYSICS

for Engineers
Module 7 Part 2:
Principle of
Hydrostatics
Principle of Hydrostatics
Fluid Statics is the study of pressure throughout a fluid at rest and the pressure forces on
finite surfaces. Since the fluid at rest, there are no stresses in it, hence the pressure, P, at a
point in a plane surface (including the fluid) or (on the boundaries of its container)
always act normal to the surface and is measured in N/m2 or Pa, kN/m2 or in bars (1 bar
= 105 Pa).
Unit Pressure
✘ It is the intensity of pressure at any point and in a fluid.
✘ It is the amount of Force per unit area.

where:
= Pressure (N/m2 of Pa, kN/m2 or kPa, lb/in2 or psi)
= Force applied (N, lb)
= Unit per area where the force applied (m 2, in2)
Pascal’s Law
At any point of fluid/liquid at rest the pressure is the same in all directions.

Let: width = L
Pressure Variation
Consider a cylindrical volume of fluid of length.
Atmospheric, Gage, and Absolute Pressure
All gases possess mass and consequently have weight. The atmospheric being a fluid
composed of a mixture of gases exerts a pressure on energy surface with which it comes
in contact.
At the sea level (normal conditions), atmospheric pressure amounts to or .

Usually pressure gage are designed to measure the intensities of pressure above or below
the atmospheric pressure as a base. Gage pressure may be positive or negative (vacuum).
If point 1 is at the liquid surface

;
(gage pressure)
Atmospheric, Gage, and Absolute Pressure
Pressure so measured are called RELATIVE or GAGE PRESURE.
Absolute pressure is always equal to gage pressure plus atmospheric pressure

where
1. What is the pressure in kPa at depth of 5 km below the ocean? The specific weight of ocean water ordinary condition
is 10.05 kN/m3.
2. An open tank containers 5.0 m of oil (). Find the pressure of the interface and at the bottom of the tank.
3. An open tank contains 3m of water covered with 0.6 m of oil (). Find the pressure at the interface between the liquids
and the bottom of the tank.

0.6
Oil

m
3.0 m

Water
4. An open tank contains 0.8 m of mercury, 1.3 m of oil and 3.4 m of water determine the pressure at the interface
between the liquids and the pressure at the bottom if the specific gravity of the liquids are 13.6, 0.80, and 1.0
respectively.

Oil

1.3
m
s.g. = 0.8

2.4 m
Water
(s.g. = 1.0)

Hg
0.8
m

(s.g. = 13.6)
5. Determine the pressure at the bottom of the container.

Elev. 37 m

12 m
Oil
(s.g. = 0.80)

Elev. 25 m

Water

6m
(s.g. = 1.00)
Elev. 19 m

Hg
5m

Elev. 14 m
(s.g. = 13.60)
6. Determine the pressure at the bottom of the containers and at the interface between the oil and water.

Elev. 5.7 m

Air

1.4
m
Elev. 4.3 m P = 30 kPa

2.8 m
Oil
(s.g. = 0.8)
Elev. 1.5 m

Water
1.5
m
Elev. 0
(s.g. = 1.0)
7. In the figure shown, if the atmospheric is 101.3 kPa and the absolute pressure at the bottom of the tank is 231.3 kPa,
what is the specific gravity of olive oil?

Elev. 7.3 m

Oil

1.5
m
Elev. 5.8 m (s.g. = 0.80)

2.5 m
Water
(s.g. = 1.00)
Elev. 3.3 m

Olive 2.9 m
(s.g. = ?)
Elev. 0.4 m
0.4 m

Hg
(s.g. = 13.60)
Elev. 0