where
ΔP is the hydrostatic pressure (given in pascals in the SI system), or the difference in pressure at two points within a fluid column, due to the weight of the fluid;
ρ is the fluid density (in kilograms per cubic meter in the SI system);
g is acceleration due to gravity (normally using the sea level acceleration due to Earth's gravity in meters per second squared);
Δh is the height of fluid above the point of measurement, or the difference in elevation between the two points within the fluid column (in meters in SI).
The intuitive explanation of this formula is that the change in pressure between two elevations is due to the weight of the fluid between the elevations.
Note that the variation with height does not depend on any additional pressures. Therefore Pascal's law can be interpreted as saying that any change in pressure applied at any given point of the fluid is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid. Equation: (P1)(V1) = (P2)(V2)
Applications
- The underlying principle of the hydraulic press
- Used for amplifying the force of the driver's foot in the braking system of most cars and trucks.
- Used in artesian wells, water towers, and dams.
- Scuba divers must understand this principle. At a depth of 10 meters under water, pressure is twice the atmospheric pressure at sea level, and increases by about 105 kPa for each increase of 10 m depth.
quoted from Wikipedia
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Also called Pascal's Principle
Pascal's law — developed by French mathematician Blaise Pascal — states that when there is an increase in pressure at any point in a confined fluid, there is an equal increase at every other point in the container.
Definition of pressure:
If F is the magnitude of the normal force on the piston and A is the surface area of a piston, then the pressure, P, of the fluid at the level to which the device has been submerged as the ratio of the force to area.
Since the pressure is force per unit area, it has units of N/m2 in the SI system.
Another name for the SI unit of pressure is Pascal (Pa)
An important application of Pascal's law is the hydraulic press. A force F1 is applied to a small piston of area A1. The pressure is transmitted through a liquid to a larger piston of area A2. Since the pressure is the same on both sides, we see that P = F1/A1 = F2/A2. Therefore, the force F2 is larger than F1 by multiplying factor A2/A1. Hydraulic brakes, car lifts, hydraulic jacks, and forklifts all make use of this principle.
quoted from Engineering.com
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Pascal's Picture