A FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS

GROUP VI
• SITTING ON A CHAIR
• STANDING ON GROUND
Pressure is the force applied perpendicular to the surface
of an object per unit area. It quantifies how much force is
acting over a certain area.

• Pressure is a scalar quantity

• Pressure can be exerted by
solids, liquids and gasses
• It is measured in Pascals (Pa), other common
units includes atmosphere (atm), bars, and
pounds per square inch (psi)

𝐹 Let;
𝑃= P= Pressure

𝐴 F= Force
A= Area
Atmospheric Pressure
Gauge Pressure
Absolute Pressure
Differential Pressure
Hydrostatic Pressure
Vaccum Pressure
 PRESSURE ABOVE
ATMOSPHERE
DIFFERENTI GAUGE
AL PRESSUR
PRESSURE E

ABSOLUT ATMOSPERIC
E PRESSURE
PRESSUR (AT SEALEVEL)
E
VACCUM
PRESSUR PRESSURE BELOW
PRESSURE ABOVE E ATMOSPHERE
ABSOLUTE ZERO

ABSOLUTE ZERO
 Atmospheric Gauge Pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the The pressure measured relative to atmospheric pressure as a
earth’s atmosphere at any given point. reference point.

• It is caused by the weight of the air above that • It indicates the pressure above or below atmospheric
point pressing down on the surface. pressure at a given location.
• It decreases with increasing altitude, as there is • It is the pressure of the system.
less air above to exert pressure. • Positive gauge pressure indicates pressure greater than
• Also called as Barometric pressure atmospheric pressure, while negative gauge pressure
LOWER indicates pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.
AIR PRESSURE
Gauge Pressure = Atmospheric Pressure – Absolute Pressure

HIGHER
AIR PRESSURE
MEASURE BY PRESSURE GAUGE
 ABSOLUTE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE
• Absolute pressure is the total pressure exerted by a • Differential pressure refers to the difference in
fluid, including atmospheric pressure and any pressure between two points in a fluid system.
additional pressure from the fluid itself. • It represents the pressure drop or change
• It represents the sum of the atmospheric pressure experienced by the fluid as it flows from one point
and the pressure exerted by the fluid at a given to another.
point. • Differential pressure is commonly used to measure
• Absolute pressure is measured relative to a perfect flow rates, detect obstructions, and monitor the
vacuum, where there is no atmospheric pressure. condition of fluid systems.

Absolute Pressure = Atmospheric Pressure + Gauge Pressure

F=F1-F2
F1 F2
 VACCUM PRESSURE HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
• Vacuum pressure refers to the pressure below • Hydrostatic pressure refers to the pressure exerted
atmospheric pressure, typically measured in units by a fluid at rest due to the weight of the fluid
such as pascals (Pa), torr, or inches of mercury above a given point.
(inHg). • It is caused by the gravitational force acting on the
• It represents a pressure lower than that of the fluid and is proportional to the depth of the fluid
surrounding atmosphere. and the density of the fluid.
• Vacuum pressure is created by removing air or • Hydrostatic pressure is an essential concept in fluid
other gases from a sealed container or system, mechanics and plays a significant role in various
resulting in a partial or complete absence of matter engineering and natural systems
The hydrostatic pressure at a certain depth ℎ in a fluid column can be
calculated using the formula:
𝑃 = ⋅ ⋅ ℎ ⋅ℎ
Where:
𝑃 =hydrostatic pressure
𝜌 =density of the fluid
𝑔 =acceleration due to gravity,
ℎ =depth of the fluid column
In fluid mechanics, pressure is a fundamental concept that quantifies the force exerted by a
fluid on a surface per unit area.
• It represents the distribution of force within a fluid and is a key parameter in analyzing
fluid behavior and flow.

Pressure Distribution:
• Pressure within a fluid varies spatially and can change with depth, velocity, and fluid
properties.
• Hydrostatic pressure increases with depth in a fluid column due to the weight of the fluid
above, following Pascal's law.
• Pressure gradients drive fluid flow, with fluid moving from areas of higher pressure to
areas of lower pressure.
In thermodynamics, pressure is a fundamental property that quantifies the force exerted by a fluid
on the walls of its container.
• It is a measure of the intensity of molecular collisions within the fluid and is crucial for
describing the behavior of gases, liquids, and vapors.

Pressure plays a central role in gas laws, such as:

• Boyle's law- its states that at constant temperature, the
pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume.

• Charles's law- states that at constant pressure, the volume of

a gas is directly proportional to its temperature.

• the ideal gas law- The ideal gas law describes the behavior
of an ideal gas, a hypothetical gas that follows specific
assumptions outlined by the kinetic molecular theory.
A 15kg rectangular block with a length of 70cm and
a width of 40cm rests on a table. What pressure does
the book exert on the table?
A closed rectangular container with dimensions
4m x 5m x 6m is filled with water. What is the
pressure exerted by the water on the bottom face of
the container?
A closed cylindrical container is filled with a fluid
that has a specific gravity of 1.7. What is the
pressure exerted by this fluid at a depth of 15m?
• Pressure is a fundamental concept with diverse applications in fluid mechanics,
thermodynamics, engineering, and science.
• Understanding pressure allows for the analysis and prediction of fluid and gas
behavior in various environments.
• Pressure plays a central role in shaping our understanding of the physical world and
driving technological advancements.
• By grasping the principles of pressure, engineers, scientists, and researchers can
innovate new solutions and optimize existing processes.
• Pressure remains a cornerstone of modern science and engineering, inspiring
exploration, discovery, and progress.
• "Fluid Mechanics" by Frank M. White - This textbook covers the fundamentals of
fluid mechanics, including pressure distributions, fluid dynamics, and applications in
engineering.
• "Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach" by Yunus A. Çengel and Michael A.
Boles - This book provides a comprehensive introduction to thermodynamics,
including discussions on pressure, gas laws, and thermodynamic processes.
• "Introduction to Fluid Mechanics" by Robert W. Fox, Alan T. McDonald, and Philip J.
Pritchard - Another textbook covering the basics of fluid mechanics, including
pressure measurements and their applications.
• "Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics" by Michael J. Moran, Howard N.
Shapiro, Daisie D. Boettner, and Margaret B. Bailey - This textbook offers a detailed
exploration of thermodynamics principles, including discussions on pressure,
temperature, and heat transfer.
• Academic journals such as the "Journal of Fluid Mechanics" and "International
Journal of Thermodynamics" often contain research articles and studies on pressure-
related topics in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.