Hydrostatic Pressure Calculator
Calculate pressure exerted by fluids at rest due to gravitational force
Calculate Hydrostatic Pressure
Mass per unit volume of the fluid
Vertical distance below fluid surface
Advanced Parameters (Optional)
Earth's average: 9.80665 m/s²
Atmospheric pressure: 101,325 Pa
Hydrostatic Pressure Results
Formula: P = ρgh + p₀
Input values: ρ = 1000.0 kg/m³, h = 0.00 m, g = 9.80665 m/s²
Gauge pressure: ρgh = 0 Pa
External pressure: p₀ = 101325 Pa
Pressure Analysis
Example: Swimming Pool Pressure
Problem
Swimming pool depth: 3.0 meters
Fluid: Fresh water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³)
Location: Sea level (p₀ = 101,325 Pa)
Gravity: 9.80665 m/s²
Solution
P = ρgh + p₀
P = (1000 kg/m³)(9.80665 m/s²)(3.0 m) + 101,325 Pa
P = 29,420 Pa + 101,325 Pa
P = 130,745 Pa = 1.29 atm
The pressure at 3m depth is 29% higher than atmospheric pressure.
Common Fluid Densities
Ocean Depth Examples
Recreational Diving
~40 m depth
~5 atm pressure
Sperm Whales
~2,000 m depth
~200 atm pressure
Mariana Trench
~11,000 m depth
~1,100 atm pressure
Physics Tips
Pressure increases linearly with depth
Pressure depends only on depth, not container shape
Higher density fluids create more pressure
Every 10m of water adds ~1 atmosphere
Understanding Hydrostatic Pressure
What is Hydrostatic Pressure?
Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid at rest due to the force of gravity. It increases linearly with depth because of the weight of the fluid column above any given point. This fundamental principle governs everything from water pressure in pipes to the immense pressures in ocean depths.
Key Principles
- •Pressure acts equally in all directions at any point
- •Independent of container shape - only depth matters
- •Pressure increases linearly with depth
- •Denser fluids create higher pressure at same depth
Hydrostatic Pressure Formula
P = ρgh + p₀
- P: Total hydrostatic pressure (Pa)
- ρ: Fluid density (kg/m³)
- g: Gravitational acceleration (9.80665 m/s²)
- h: Depth below surface (m)
- p₀: External pressure (usually atmospheric, 101,325 Pa)
Applications
- • Submarine and diving equipment design
- • Dam and reservoir engineering
- • Water distribution systems
- • Oil well pressure calculations
- • Marine biology and oceanography
Note: At ocean depths, pressure can exceed 1,000 times atmospheric pressure, requiring specialized materials and engineering solutions.