Formula library

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic Pressure
\[P = \rho g h\]

Variables

Phydrostatic pressure (Pa)
rhofluid density (kg/m³)
ggravitational acceleration (m/s²)
hfluid depth (m)

Description

What is this formula?

The hydrostatic pressure equation calculates the pressure generated by a fluid at a specific depth due to gravity. Pressure increases linearly with depth.


When to use it

Use this formula when analyzing water tanks, dams, pipelines, underwater systems, hydraulic systems, or fluid storage containers.


Example

Water with density 1000 kg/m³ is at a depth of 5 m.


Data:

rho = 1000 kg/m³

g = 9.81 m/s²

h = 5 m


Formula:

P = rho*g*h


Substitution:

P = 1000*9.81*5


Result:

P = 49050 Pa


Applications

Hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, underwater systems, fluid storage, process engineering, and fluid mechanics.

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