Calculating Pressure & Force in a Swimming Pool

[roman15]

Homework Statement

A swimming pool in 50m long, 20m wide and 3m deep. Its filled to the top
a)what is the force of the water on the bottom (50m x 20m) of the pool?
b)what is the force on the long side (50m x 3m) of the pool?

Homework Equations

force=pressure*area

p(d)=(pressure of the air) +(density of the fluid)*g*d where d is the distance from the top to bottom of the pool

The Attempt at a Solution

not exactly sure, but for a) do i use the second equation to find the pressure at the bottom of the pool and then just multiple it by its area? but then what is the pressure of the air?

for b) I am not really sure what to do

 

[gneill]

For the pressure of the air you can use one standard atmosphere (look it up).

The bottom is all at one depth so that it's all at one pressure. You're not so lucky with the sides. Looks like a touch of calculus will come in handy.

 

[roman15]

so what i thought of doing for a) is correct then?

 

[gneill]

so what i thought of doing for a) is correct then?

Sure.