Principle of Hydrostatics
Prepared By : Engr. Kent Dominic Armateo
Pressure, p
Pressure is the force per unit area exerted by a
liquid or gas on a body or surface with the force
acting at right angles to the surface in all
directions.
𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝑝=
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
𝑝 = 𝛾ℎ
Pascal’s Law
Pascal’s Law states that the
pressure on a fluid is equal in all
directions and in all parts of the
container.
EQUAL
E L
Mercury
Atmospheric and Gage Pressures
Atmospheric Pressures
• Atmospheric Pressure is the pressure at any point on
the earth’s surface that is due to the weight of the air
alone.
Under Normal Conditions at sea level :
• Patm = 101.325 Kpa
= 2166 lb/ ft2
= 14.7 psi
= 760 mm Hg
= 29.9 inches of mercury Hg
Atmospheric and Gage Pressures
Gage Pressure
• Gage Pressure are pressures below the atmosphere
and can be measure by pressure gauge or
manometers
Absolute Pressure is total pressure exerted by the
atmospheric pressure and gage pressure.
𝑷𝒂𝒃𝒔 = 𝑷𝒈𝒂𝒈𝒆 + 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒎
Variations in Pressure
Pressure can vary in many ways, including
with depth, with force, and with elevation.
Pressure increases as you go deeper into a
fluid because of the weight of the fluid
above you.
The difference in pressure between any two
points in a homogenous fluid at rest is
equal to the product of the unit weight of
the fluid to the vertical distance between
the points
𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = 𝛾ℎ
Variations in Pressure
If point P1 lies on the free liquid surface,
then the gage pressure is zero and the
equation becomes
𝑃2 = 𝛾ℎ
Variations in Pressure
If both P1 and P2 lies on the same
elevation such that h = 0, then the equation
becomes,
𝑃1 = 𝑃2
Layers of Different Liquids
Consider the tank shown to be filled with different
liquids of different densities. The pressure at the
bottom of the tank can be computed using
𝑃𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 − 𝑃𝐴 = 𝛾1 ℎ1 + 𝛾2 ℎ2 + 𝛾3 ℎ3
𝑃𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 = ∑𝛾ℎ + 𝑃𝐴
If PA = zero, then
𝑃𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 = ∑𝛾ℎ
Layers of Different Liquids
Converting Pressure Heads
Take note that it is complicated to use the specific values of
the unit weight for each type of liquid. Thus, it is easier to
convert the liquid to a pressure head of a known liquid in
which in most cases, water.
𝑆1
ℎ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = ℎ1 ∗
𝑆𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
But note that the specific gravity of water is equal to S =1,
therefore the equation is simplified to,
ℎ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = ℎ1 𝑆1
Sample Problems
1. If a 1m depth of an unknown liquid causes a
pressure of 7 Kpa. What is the specific gravity of
the liquid?
S = 0.713
Sample Problems
2. If the pressure 23 meters below a liquid is
338.445 Kpa. Determine the following.
• Unit Weight
• Mass Density
• Specific Gravity
Y = 14.715 KN/m3
P = 1500 kg/m3
S = 1.5
Sample Problems
3. If the pressure at a point in the ocean is 60 Kpa.
What is the pressure 27 meters below this point.
Sp.G of Ocean = 1.03
P2 = 332.82 Kpa
Sample Problems
4. A pressure gage 6m above the bottom of the tank
containing liquid read 90 Kpa and another pressure
gage at 4m above the bottom reads 103 Kpa.
Determine the unit weight of the liquid.
Y = 6.5 KN/m3
Sample Problems
5. An open tank contains 5.8m of water covered
with 3.2m of kerosene (y = 8 KN/m3). Find the
pressure at the interface of the two liquids and at
the bottom of the tank.
Pressure at the interface = 25.60 Kpa
Pressure at the bottom = 82.50 Kpa
Sample Problems
6. In the figure shown, If the absolute
pressure at the bottom of the tank is 231.3 Oil, s = 0.89 1.5m
Kpa, what is the specific gravity of olive oil.
S olive = 1.38 Water 2.5m
Olive, s = ? 2.9m
Mercury, s = 13.6 0.4m
Manometers
A Manometer is a tube, usually bent in a form
of a U, containing a liquid of known specific
gravity. It is usually used to measure pressure.
A manometer indicates the pressure relative
to the atmospheric pressure.
Types of Manometer are
• Open Manometer
• Differential Manometer
• Piezometer
Steps in Solving Manometers
1. Decide on the fluid in feet or meter, of which the heads are to be
expressed.
2. Starting from an end point, number in order the interface of different
fluids
3. Identify points of equal elevations and equal pressure. Label these with
same number
4. Proceed from level to level, ADDING pressure heads if going down, or
SUBTRACTING if going up.
For the manometer shown, determine
the pressure at the center of the oil.
P = 144.7 Kpa
Y = 0.324 m
For the manometer setup shown,
determine the difference in
pressure between and A and B
Pa – Pb = 15.68 Kpa
H = .25 m
