density
where h is the depth in the liquid and is the density of the liquid.
Figure 1
Notice that the total pressure at a depth h will be that due to the liquid (hg) PLUS that due
to the atmosphere above it.
Example problem
The pressure of the atmosphere is about 105 Pa. Calculate the depth below the surface of water
where the total pressure (atmospheric + water pressure is twice that amount i.e. 2x105 Pa. (Take
the density of water to be 1000 kg m-3).
Excess pressure due to water = 105 Pa = hrg = h x 1000 x 9.8
Therefore h = 102/9.8 = 10.2 m
Figure 2
Density (
(See Figure 3)
h
Figure 3
A world famous diving location is the President Coolidge an American troop ship sunk off the
coast of Santo in Vanuatu. Decompression takes over an hour for divers rising from the stern
of the ship.
h
Figure 4
From this it follow that the pressure at points of equal distance below the ground in a
complex water filled cave system will all be the same. (See Figure 5)
Figure 5
h
Figure 6
h
Figure 7
Clearly water will not flow if the height of the top of the tube above the water surface (d) is
greater than the atmospheric pressure. The presence of bubbles of air in the siphon
pipe cause problems with the operation of a siphon.
Pressure on sea bed with a boat passing overhead
As long as the depth of the water does not change the pressure below a boat will be exactly
the same as if the boat was not there.
Pressure = hg
Pressure = hg
Figure 8