Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- Pressure in Fluids
- Pressure variation : Fluids
- Summary
- Did You Know?
- What’s Next?
In the previous segment, we learnt to calculate thrust and pressure exerted by solid objects. In this segment, we will learn about the pressure exerted by fluids.
Pressure in Fluids
Fluids are generally kept in a container. They exert pressure on the base and on the walls of the container in which they are enclosed. The pressure on the base acts in the downward direction and on the walls pressure acts sidewards.
How does pressure vary with depth in fluids?
Pressure exerted by the fluid increases with increasing depth. We can even verify it with the help of a simple experiment.
Let us take an example of water being kept in a plastic container. Liquids exert pressure on the base and the walls of the container in which they are enclosed.
Pressure Exerted by a Fluid
We can divide the fluid inside a container into five equal layers.
The second layer of water is holding the weight of the first layer. Similarly, the third layer is holding the weight of the first as well as the second layer. The fourth layer is holding the weight of the top three layers and so on. Hence, the pressure at the bottommost layer is the maximum.
Different Pressure Level in a Container
If we make a tiny hole near the topmost layer at the side, water does not roll along the walls but flows out at an angle. If we make a second hole near the layer under it, the water flows out at a wider angle as compared to the earlier case. If we continue to make holes in the wall, the water squirts out.
