HYDROSTATICS

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Hydrostatics is a branch of Physics that deals with the
characteristics of fluids at rest and especially with the pressure in a fluid or exerted by a fluid on an
immersed body

This chapter focuses on:

Define the term Pressure and apply the formula P=F/A

Explain the characteristics of Pressure in a Liquid

Being able to drink liquid from a straw, the ability of air in car tyres to support the weight of a car, the
broad caterpillar steel tracks in army tanks and the wide wooden sleepers across train tracks are all
practical applications of the effect of pressure.

PRESSURE:

Pressure is experienced by all states of matter. The mass of molecules exert a force through their weight
on a given surface. It is this force per unit area that gives rise to a pressure.

DEFINTION: Pressure is defined as the force (F) acting normally per unit area(A).

Force( F )
Pr essure =
Area( A)

Force( F ) = Pressure(P) x Area (A)

Force( F )
Area (A)=
Pr essure( P)

The units of pressure are: Pascal (Pa) and Newtons per metre squared (Nm -2)

Definition of the Pascal (Pa): One Pascal is the pressure exerted when a force of One Newton (1N) acts
normally over an area of One Square metre ( 1m2).

There are two factors which affect the magnitude of pressure:

1. The size of the applied force (F)

2. The surface area over which the force is applied (A)

Consider a nail for example the base of the nail is wider than the tip. When used the tip is inserted into the
surface. This narrow area concentrates all the applied force to one point. This allows a large pressure to be
experienced. The wider base will distribute the applied force over a greater area. The pressure generated
will be smaller.
 Another similar example is : Who would sink faster an elephant or a girl wearing stiletto heels? The
answer is the girl wearing the heels. Even though her mass and hence her weight (W=mg) is less than the
elephant, her weight is distributed over a smaller area. Thus, the pressure exerted on the ground would be
greater. The elephant’s weight is distributed over the wider area of his feet. This produces a smaller
pressure.

This leads to two conditions:

1. Pressure is proportional to force; the greater the force, the greater the pressure.
2. Pressure is inversely proportional to surface area; the greater the area, the smaller the pressure.

Example 1: Consider the following block of mass 500g. Determine which side A,B or C will it exert the
greatest pressure on the ground.

A=0.04 x 0.03= 0.0012 m 2

B= 0.04 x 0.02= 0.0008m 2
C=0.03 x 0.02= 0.0006m 2
Always work in SI units
F W mg
P= = =
A A A
Mass in kg= 0.5kg
Weight= 0.5 x 10= 5N
5
PA = = 4167.7 Pa
0.0012
5
PB = = 6250 Pa
0.0008
5
PC = = 8333.3Pa
0.0006
Thus the smallest area C exerts the greatest pressure.

Try it out: Can you determine which side the block, of mass 600g must be placed to exert the least
pressure on the ground?
 Answer: Side B, largest area gives the smallest pressure

Example 2: A girl of mass X kg exerts a pressure of 15000 Pa on the ground when standing on one foot.
If the area of one heel is 200 cm2, determine X.

Always work with SI units

Converting cm 2 to m 2 by dividing by 10 000
200
A= = 0.02m 2
10000
F
From P= F= P x A
A
F= 15000 x 0.02
F= 300N
F=W=mg where g=10 N/kg
W 300
m= = = 30kg
10 10

Example 3: A car exerts a total pressure of 80kPa (80 000 Pa) via its four tyres. If the weight of the car is
30 000N, determine the area of one tyre over which the weight is distributed.

F 30000
A= = = 0.375m 2
P 80000
0.375
Area of one tyre= = 0.09375m 2
4

Try it out:

1. A girl of mass 35kg exerts a pressure of 150 000 Pa on the ground. Determine the area of one her
shoes.
2. A block exerts a pressure of 25000 Pa when placed on its side of area 0.02m2. Determine its mass
in kg.

Just as a solid exerts a pressure on a surface upon which it is in contact, liquids and gases exert pressures
on surfaces and objects they are in contact with.
 PRESSURE IN A FLUID

A fluid is classified as any liquid or gas. Fundamentally, fluids take the shape of their container and have
the tendency to flow in the direction of an applied force. For this syllabus, the fluid is considered at rest.

A pressure is experienced by molecules in a fluid. The fluid consists of a continuous distribution of

matter. The molecules are exerting forces on the surface area they are in contact with. This gives rise to a
pressure. When considering a fluid, the pressure at a point is considered. The magnitude of this pressure is
dependent on:

1. Depth within a fluid (h)

2. Acceleration due to gravity (g= 10 ms-2 or 10 N/kg)
3. Density of the fluid (ρ)

Consider a fluid of density ρ placed in a container of volume V having a crossectional area A and depth h
(V=Ah).

F W mg Vg  Ahg
P= = = = = = h g
A A A A A

This formula is used to determine the pressure at a point in the fluid (P)

h= depth within the fluid

ρ= density of the fluid

g= acceleration due to gravity

Example 4: An aquarium has a rectangular base that measures 50cm by 20cm. Its height is 35cm
and sea water of density 1150 kgm-3 is used to fill it. Calculate the weight of water in the
aquarium and the pressure on a fish at the bottom of the aquarium due to the water alone.

Always work in SI units

V= L x B x H= 0.5 x 0.2 x .35= 0.035m3
mass= density x volume= 1150 x 0.035= 40.25 kg
Weight= mass x g= 40.25 x 10= 402.5 N
Pressure= h g= 0.35 x 1150 x 10= 4025 Pa

W 402.5
Alternatively: P= = = 4025 Pa
A 0.5 x0.2
 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIQUID PRESSURE

There are four characteristics of pressure:

1. A fluid pressure increases with depth: The further down in the fluid, the greater the weight of the
fluid. Thus, there is a greater pressure. The following experiment shows that the liquid spurts the
fastest and furthest from the bottom opening. This indicates that the pressure is the greatest at the
base.

2. At one level in a fluid at rest, the pressure is the same at all points.

The pressure is the same at all depths, h.

3. Pressure increases with density: The denser the substance, the greater the mass of molecules per
unit volume. This allows the weight per unit area to be greater and hence the pressure.

4. A liquid finds its own level: Consider the diagram below. When the tap is opened, the liquid
flows from one tube to the other of different area, until the pressure in each column is the same.

HYDRAULIC MACHINES:

A hydraulic machine is an example of a force multiplier as well as an applicator of pressure in a fluid. It

works under the principle that LIQUIDS ARE INCOMPRESSIBLE. This means that the liquid will
transmit any pressure applied to it. A force F1 is applied to a small piston of area A1. This introduces a
pressure into the liquid. The pressure pushes a second piston of greater area A2. This gives rise to a
greater force F2. It demonstrates Pascal’s Principle: Blaise Pascal that states that a pressure change at
any point in a confined incompressible fluid is transmitted throughout the fluid such that the same change
occurs everywhere.

F1 F2
P= =
A1 A2

This device is used to elevate cars and in car braking systems.

Example 5: The diagram below shows a hydraulic machine.

Explain the principle on which this machine operates. If the area of the large piston is 100 times the
area of the smaller piston and the car that is lifted has a mass of 560 kg, determine the force that
the piston at A must apply to lift the car. Use g= 10ms-2.

Hydraulic machines are force multipliers. This means that when a small force is applied to the piston at A,
it can provide a much larger force to the piston at B. It uses the principle that liquids are incompressible.
This means that once a pressure is applied to it, the pressure is transmitted throughout the liquid.

Use the formula:

F1 F2
=
A1 A2
F1 560 x 10
=
A 100 A
560 x 10 x A
F1 =
100 A
F1 = 56 N

PRESSURE IN A GAS:

Recall that gas molecules are in a state of rapid random motion. These molecules are moving in a
haphazard manner. The molecules are constantly bombarding the walls of the container. They exert a
force per unit area, giving rise to a pressure. This gas pressure can be increased by (i) heating the gas: the
gas molecules will gain kinetic energy. This allows the molecules to move faster, exerting a greater force
per unit area and (ii) compressing the gas: By decreasing the volume of the gas, the area over which the
molecules exert their force decreases. This increases the force per unit area, hence increasing the pressure.

Atmospheric Pressure is experienced when air molecules surrounding different surfaces bombard them
with a force per unit area. This pressure is responsible for many daily applications such as:

1. Drinking from a straw: By sucking on the straw, the air is removed and the pressure becomes
lower within the straw. The atmospheric pressure is pushing down on the surface of the liquid.
This forces the liquid to ascend the straw as the liquid will flow from a region of higher pressure
to lower pressure.
2. Consider a syringe. When the plunger is pushed down, it removes all of the air from the barrel.
This lowers the pressure in the barrel. When the tip is inserted into the liquid and the plunger is
pulled upwards, liquid flows from a region of higher pressure to lower pressure.
3. Consider a rubber sucker. This suction device is used to attach objects to a surface. The inner wall
pushes air out creating a vacuum of low pressure between the device and the surface. The
atmospheric pressure acts down on the suction device, keeping it attached to the surface.
4. Air pressure affects the weather pattern to a large extent. Rising air creates a high pressure. Thus,
air rises and cools, clouds and precipitate are formed. Low air pressure produces unstable weather
conditions like rain and storms.

INSTRUMENTS USED TO MEASURE PRESSURE:

1. U-tube Manometer: Consider the diagram below. One end is connected to the pressure source.
The other end is open to the atmosphere. The liquid in the tube may be water or mercury. The
excess of pressure above atmospheric pressure will be shown as the difference in the liquid levels.
Initially, the level of the liquid is the same in each column. When the source is attached, it forces
the liquid in the tube to rise. The difference in the height is used to calculate pressure.
P1 – P2=hρg

The diagram below shows a U- tube manometer filled with mercury of density 13,600 kgm-3.
Describe how you would use the apparatus to determine the pressure of a gas.
In one reading, the columns have heights 1.4m and 0.6m respectively. Calculate the pressure
difference to be measured.

The U-tube manometer consists of a U shaped glass tube filled with mercury. One side is connected to the
gas of unknown pressure. The other end of the tube is open to the atmosphere and the air is exerting
atmospheric pressure on it. The liquid will initially be at the level B in both columns. As the gas is
connected, the pressure it contains exert a force on the mercury. This causes the mercury to move and rise
in the column AB. The pressure is measured by: P= hρg as the difference in the heights of the column
corresponds to the pressure of the gas.

P=hρg= 13600 x (1.4-0.6) x 10= 108,800 Pa. This represents the difference in pressure with V and
atmospheric pressure.

It should be noted that if the pressure of the gas was greater, there will be a higher level of liquid in the
right hand column and consequently if the atmospheric pressure were greater, then the liquid in the left
hand column will be greater.

2. Mercury Barometer:

This instrument consists of an inverted glass tube in a container of mercury. The atmospheric pressure
will push downward on the surface of the mercury. This allows the liquid to rise in the glass tube. The
length of the column will correspond to 760mm. This indicates the effect of atmospheric pressure. This
length can be used in the formula P=hρg to determine the pressure.
3. Bourdon Gauge: The gauge below shows that the pointer is deflected along a scale depending on
the applied pressure. The larger the deflection of the pointer, the larger the reading of pressure.