PRINCIPLES OF

HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
BY: ENGR. MARK JOREN CRISOLOGO
UNIT PRESSURE OR Units:
PRESSURE psi (pound per square inch)
kg/cm2 (kilogram per sq. cm)
Pressure is the force per unit
area. Hydrostatic pressure can Pa (Pascal or Newton per sq. meter)
be calculated with the formula: atm (atmosphere) = 1.033 kg/sq. cm)
= 14.695 lb/in2
P = (Unit Weight)(Height)
P = Force/ Area

PASCAL’S LAW, states that the

pressure on a fluid is equal in all
directions and in all parts of the
container.
PASCAL’S LAW, states that the pressure on a fluid is equal in all directions
and in all parts of the container.
Developed by French Blaise Pascal
TYPES OF PRESSURE
Gage pressures - are pressures above or below the atmosphere
and can be measured by pressure gauges or manometers.
TYPES OF PRESSURE
2. Atmospheric pressure - is the pressure at any one point on the
earth surfaces from the weight of the air above it.

patm = 2166 lb/ft2

patm = 14.7 lb/in2
patm = 29.9 inches Mercury
patm = 760 mm Mercury
patm = 101.325 kPa = 1 atm
TYPES OF PRESSURE
3. Absolute pressure is the pressure above absolute zero (vacuum)

A vacuum is a space that has all matter removed from it

Absolute zero is a pressure in a perfect vacuum

Pabs = Patm + Pgage

CHANGE IN PRESSURE
P2 – P1 = Yh

P1

P1 h
h

P2 P2
Pressure below Layers of Different
Liquids
Consider the closed tank shown on the
right to be filled with liquids of different
densities and with air at the top under a
gage pressure of 𝑝𝐴
PRESSURE HEAD EQUIVALENCE
PROBLEM 1
What is the pressure
25m below the ocean?
Use specific gravity of
saltwater = 1.03

Ans: 252.61 kPa

PROBLEM 2
If the pressure 25m below a
liquid 354.68 kPa, determine
its unit weight, mass density
and specific gravity of the
liquid.

Ans:
Unit weight = 14.187 kN/m3
Mass density = 1446.18 kg/m3
Specific gravity = 1.45
PROBLEM 3
A pressure gage 8m above the bottom of
the tank containing a liquid reads 100kPa.
Another gage height 6m above the bottom
of the tank reads 113 kPa. Determine the
specific weight of the liquid.

Ans: 6.5 kN/m3

PROBLEM 4
An open tank contains 5.8m
of water covered with 3.2m of
oil (γ=8.5 kN/m^3). Find
the pressure at the interface
and at the bottom of the
tank.

Ans:
Pint = 27.2 kPa
Pbot = 84.098 kPa
 PROBLEM 5
The pressure inside a tank is 4.2
atm at sea level. What is gage
pressure inside the tank?

Ans:
3.2 atm
PROBLEM 6
A diver is currently located at a depth of 50m in the ocean.
A.) what is the gage pressure at this point?
B.) What is the absolute pressure?
(Density of seawater is 1025 kg/m^3)

Ans:
Pgage = 502.76 kPa
Pabs = 604.088 kPa
PROBLEM 7
The height of the water and oil are 15m and 8m respectively.
The container is open to the atmosphere.
A.) What is gage pressure and absolute pressure at the oil water
interface?
B.) What is the gage pressure and absolute pressure at the
bottom of the container?

Ans:
a.) 62.784 kPa and 164.109 kPa
b.) 209.934 and 311.259 kPa
PATM = 101.03 kPa
PROBLEM 8
Oil, s = 0.89 1.5 m
In a figure shown. If the
atmospheric pressure is 101.03 kPa
Water 2.5 m and the absolute pressure at the
bottom of the tank is 231.3 kPa.
What is the specific gravity of the
olive oil?
Olive, s = ? 2.9 m
Ans:
0.4 m Gs = 1.38
Mercury , s = 13.6
 PROBLEM 9
In the figure shown,
Air 2m what is the static
pressure in kPa in the air
chamber?
Oil
sg = 0.80 4m Ans: -11.77 kPa

5m

3m
Water
PROBLEM 10 FB

Piston A has a cross section of FA

1200 sq.cm while that of piston B
is 800 sq.cm. with the latter higher
than piston A by 2 m. If the
intervening passage are filled with B
oil whose specific gravity is 0.8 and A = 800 sq. cm
force 4kN is acting on B, A
h = 2m
a.) What is the difference in A = 1200 sq. cm
pressure between A and B?
b.) What must be the force exerted s.g = 0.8
at piston A?

Ans:
a.) 15.696 kPa
b.) 7.88 kN
PROBLEM 11
Determine the value of y in the
manometer in the figure shown.

Ans:
y = 0.324 m
PROBLEM 12
For the gage reading of -17.1 kPa,
determine the
a.) elevations of the liquids on the open
piezometer columns E, F and G
b.) the deflection of the mercury in the U-
tube manometer neglecting the weight of
the air.

Ans:
a.) 12.5m, 12.357 m and 10.72 m
b.) 0.614 m
PROBLEM 13
For the manometer setup shown,
determine the difference in pressure
between A and B

Ans:
10.323 kPa
PROBLEM 14
For the inclined-tube manometer
of the figure. The pressure in the
pipe A is 0.6 psi. The fluid in the
both pipes A and B is water, and
the gage fluid in the manometer
has a specific gravity of 2.6. What
is the pressure in pipe B
corresponding to the differential
reading shown?

Ans:
0.224 psi
PROBLEM 15
For the differential manometer
attached to the pipe as shown,
calculate the pressure difference
between points A and B.

Ans:
263.95 psf
 HYDROSTATIC
FORCE ON
PLANE SURFACES
BY: ENGR. MARK JOREN CRISOLOGO
TOTAL HYDROSTATIC FORCE
FORMULAS:
𝞡
F = γhA
h F = ρcgA
y
yp

F
ECCENTRICITY
𝐼𝑔
𝑒 =
e 𝐴𝑦
cg
cp
LOCATION OF F

Yp = γ + e
PROBLEM 1
A vertical gate that is 2m wide and 4m high is
submerged in water with it’s top edge 3m below the
water surface. Find
(a) the total pressure acting on one side of the gate
(b) the location of the hydrostatic force from the bottom
of the gate.

Ans: (a) 392.4 kN

(b) 1.733 m
PROBLEM 2
A 3.7 m high by 1.5 m wide
rectangular gate 𝐶𝐷 is
vertical and is hinged at a
point 150 mm below its
center of gravity. The total
depth of water is 6.1 m. What
horizontal force P must be
applied at the bottom of the
gate for equilibrium?

Ans: P = 16.06 kN
PROBLEM 3
A circular gate 1.5m in diameter is inclined 45° with the vertical.
The center of the gate is 10m below the water surface.
a.) Calculate the total force on the gate
b.) Calculate the distance of the total force from the bottom of
the gate
c.) If the gate is hinged at top, find the normal force applied at
the bottom required to open the gate

Ans: (a) 173.36 kN

(b) 0.74 m
(c) 87.83 kN
PROBLEM 4 Air,p = 15 kPa

0.7m
Determine the 1.0m
Oil, sg = 0.8

Water
magnitude of the Glycerine, sg = 1.26
total hydrostatic 1.2m

force acting on the 30°

inclined plane AB cg

4.5m
2m

Ans: 406.23 kN
PROBLEM 5
A vertical triangular gate has a top base horizontal of 2
m and is 3 m high. It is submerged in oil (s.g. = 0.82) with
its top base submerged to a depth of 4 m below the
liquid surface. (Unit weight of water = 9.83 kN/m^3)
Determine the magnitude
Determine the location of hydrostatic pressure
acting on one side.

Ans: (a) 120.91 kN

(b) 5.1 m
 HYDROSTATIC
FORCE ON
CURVED SURFACES
BY: ENGR. MARK JOREN CRISOLOGO
TOTAL HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON CURVED SURFACES
TOTAL HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON CURVED SURFACES
TOTAL HYDROSTATIC FORCE ON CURVED SURFACES
PROBLEM 8
The crest gate shown consists of a cylindrical
surface of which AB is the base supported by
structural frame hinged at C. The length of the
gate is 10 m. Compute the:
a.) Horizontal component of the hydrostatic force
b.) Vertical component of hydrostatic force
c.) The resultant force acting on the gate
d.) The location from point C of the resultant
force.

Ans:
FH = 3678.53 kN
FV = 1235.08 kN
F = 3880.34 kN
x = 8.61 m
PROBLEM 9
Surface AB is a circular arc with a radius of
2m and a width of 1m into the paper. The
distance EB is 4m. The fluid above surface AB
is water, and atmospheric pressure prevails
on the free surface of the water and on the
bottom side of surface AB. Find the
magnitude and location of the hydrostatic
force acting on surface AB.

Ans:
FH = 98.1 kN
FV = 109.87 kN
F = 146.87 kN
location: 0.933 m above A and 0.957 to the
right of A
PROBLEM 10
The plate shown in this side is 4 ft
wide (into the paper) and acts as gate
in an open channel. Find the resultant
force of the water pressure exerts on
the plate. Neglect the weight of the
plate.

Ans:
F = 5.712 kips
PROBLEM 11
Calculate the hydrostatic force on the
curve gate AB per meter of depth
(into the page). Find the line of action.
The gate has radius of 6m.

Ans:
F = 328.81 kN
ø = 57.5º
PROBLEM 12
The gate shown is a quarter circle
2.5m wide. Find the force F just
sufficient to prevent rotation about
hinge B. Neglect the weight of the
gate.

Ans:
F = 21.09 kN
 HOMEWORK # 2 Patm

wall
1. The gate in the figure is 4ft
wide, is hinged at point B, and Seawater
rests against a smooth wall at A. 17ft
γ=64 lb/ft^3
A
A.) Compute the force on the
gate due to seawater pressure
7.2ft
B.) Compute the horizontal B Ɵ
force P exerted by the wall at 9.6ft
point A
C.) Compute the reactions at
hinged B
HOMEWORK # 2
2. A vertical rectangular gate that is 2m wide and 4m meter high submerged
in the water with it’s top edge 3m below the water surface. Find the total
pressure acting on one side of the gate and it’s location from the bottom.
HOMEWORK # 2
3. A vertical pipe line with attached gage
and manometer contains oil mercury as
shown. The manometer is open to the
atmosphere. There is no flow in the pipe.
a.) What will be the gage pressure reading
at A?
b.) Express the pressure reading at A in
bar
c.) Express the pressure reading A in
terms of of head in meters.