PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

FLUIDS: Pressure
Objectives:
 Define pressure.
 Will be able to solve problems on pressure.

Pressure

Normal force per unit area.

Pressure p exerted on a surface is the ratio between the magnitude F of the force and the area.
𝐹
p=𝐴

𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
pressure = 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

The unit for pressure is Pascal (Pa) and it is equal to 1 N/m2. The US Customary unit
of pressure is lb/in2 or psi.

Example: An astronaut is working outside the International Space Station where the
atmospheric pressure is essentially zero. The pressure gauge on her air tank reads 6.90 × 106
Pa. What force does the air inside the tank exert on the flat end of the cylindrical tank, a disk
0.150 m in diameter?

Solution: By rearranging the definition of pressure to solve for force, we see that

F = pA

Here, the pressure p is given, as is the area of the end of the cylinder A, given by A = π r2.
Thus,

Physics 101 – Physics for Engineers Instructor: Mr. Rio Nico U. Costales
F= (6.90×106 N/m2) (3.14) (0.0750 m)2 =1.22×105 N

Example: An open tank contains 5.7 m of water covered with 2.8

Solution: pressure at the interface

𝐹 𝑁
p = 𝐴 = 𝑚2 =Pa

p = Unit Weight x Depth= N/m3 x m = N/m2 = Pa

p = 8 kN/m3 x 2.8 m = 22.4 kPa

pressure at the interface

p = Unit Weight x Depth

p = 22.4 + 9.81 kN/m3 x 5.7 m = 78.32 kPa

Example: A tank contains oil sp. gr. = .80, gasoline sp. gr. = 0.90 and
sea water sp. gr. = 1.03. If the depths of the liquids are 0.5 m, 0.8 m
and 1 m for oil, gasoline and sea water respectively. Find pressure at
the depth of 1.2 m, 1.8 m and at the bottom of the tank.

Absolute Pressure

Absolute pressure is the sum of gauge pressure and atmospheric pressure.

The total pressure, or absolute pressure, is thus the sum of gauge pressure and atmospheric
pressure: Pabs = Pg + Patm where Pabs is absolute pressure, Pg is gauge pressure, and Patm is atmospheric
pressure.

Gauge Pressure

Gauge pressure is the pressure measured relative to the ambient atmospheric pressure.

The gauge pressure, Pgauge at a depth H in a fluid of density D, where the acceleration of gravity
is g, is given by:

Pgauge=DgH

Atmospheric Pressure

Physics 101 – Physics for Engineers Instructor: Mr. Rio Nico U. Costales
 Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within
the atmosphere of Earth. The standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure.

1 atm = 101 325 Pa = 101.325 kPa

1 atm = 14. 696 psi

Example: If the atmospheric pressure is 101.3 kPa and the absolute

1. What is the specific gravity of the olive oil?

2. What is the absolute pressure at the interface of the olive and the
mercury?

3. what is the gage pressure at the interface of the olive oil and the
mercury?

Solution:

1. specific gravity of the olive oil

Pabs = Pg + Patm

231.3 kPa = 101.3 + 9.81 (.89) (1.5) + 9.81 (2.5) + 9.81 (sp.gr.) (2.9) + 13.6 (9.81) (0.4)

39.01225 = 28.449 sp. gr.

sp. gr. = 1.37

2. absolute pressure at the interface of the olive and the mercury

Pabs = Pg + Patm

Pabs = 101.3 + 9.81 (.89) (1.5) + 9.81 (2.5) + 9.81 (1.37) (2.9)

Pabs = 177.896 kPa

3. gage pressure at the interface of the olive oil and the mercury

Pg = 9.81 (.89) (1.5) + 9.81 (2.5) + 9.81 (1.37) (2.9)

Pg = 76. 596 kPa

Pg = Pabs - Patm

Pg = 177.896 kPa – 101.3 kPa

Pg = 76. 596 kPa

Physics 101 – Physics for Engineers Instructor: Mr. Rio Nico U. Costales
Example: A mercury barometer at the base of the mountain reads 620 mm Hg. at the same time, another
barometer at the top of the mountain reads 450 mm Hg. Assuming that the weight of the air is to be
constant at 10 N/m3. What is the height of the mountain?

Solution: γh = p

p1 = γh = (13.6 * 9.81 *) .62 = 82.71 kPa

p2 = γh = (13.6 * 9.81 *) .45 = 60.04 kPa

p1 – p2 = γh

(82.71 – 60.04)*1000 N/m2 = 10 N/m3 h

h = 2267 m

A barometer is a scientific instrument that is used to measure air pressure in a certain environment.
Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the weather. Many measurements of air pressure are
used within surface weather analysis to help find surface troughs, pressure systems and frontal boundaries.

Example: For the open tank with piezometers attached on the side
contains two different liquids. Find the elevation of the liquid b in
the piezometer.

Solution: p = γh

= (9.81 * 0.72 * 1.7) + (9.81 * 2.36 * 0.3) +(9.81 * h * 2.36)

h = 0.82 m

Assignment Attendance

Find the pressure at the bottom of the tank.

Physics 101 – Physics for Engineers Instructor: Mr. Rio Nico U. Costales
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid#:~:text=In%20physics%2C%20a%20fluid%20is,shear%20force%20applied%20to%20them.

https://www.google.com/search?q=example+for+pressure&sxsrf=ALeKk00PqXoC7YPNXUFJiDKwkrYldNNCIw:1620635992646&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi6lp
rF277wAhXxX3wKHXqTCuEQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1536&bih=754#imgrc=jJGv_OfUwhkHoM

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/11-3-pressure/

https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/College_Physics/Book%3A_College_Physics_(OpenStax)/11%3A_Fluid_Statics/11.06%3A_Gauge_Pressure_Absolute_Pressure_and_Pressure_
Measurement

https://sens4.com/what%20is%20gauge%20pressure.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure#:~:text=Atmospheric%20pressure%2C%20also%20known%20as,inches%20Hg%2C%20or%2014.696%20psi.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/11-6-gauge-pressure-absolute-pressure-and-pressure-
measurement/#:~:text=The%20total%20pressure%2C%20or%20absolute,Patm%20is%20atmospheric%20pressure.

https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/106466/how-to-calculate-gauge-pressure-at-water-depth

Physics 101 – Physics for Engineers Instructor: Mr. Rio Nico U. Costales