Conceptual problems with pressure, me to clarify

[jenzao]

Why is air pressure always factored in when calculating pressure at a given depth of water?
Why is the force from air pushing down on the surface of water the same at 1m as it is at 100m?
there is no air underwater, so why do we still need this value when doing pressure-depth calculations?

 

[mathman]

Total pressure at any depth in the water is sum of air pressure and water pressure. The air pressure at the surface, independent of depth, has to be added into get the total.
For a simple analogy, put a ten pound weight on a scale - it will read ten pounds. Put another ten pound weight on top of the first and the scale will read twenty pounds.

 

[arildno]

The water must be able to sustain the weight of the air above it.

Thus, mathman's analogy is hardly just an analogy, rather, it is more of a precise description.

As I am sure he knows full well.

 

[jenzao]

this was explained really well, thank you. just quick follow-up.. Is gauge pressure simply pressure minus the air pressure? (101325Pa)?

 

[russ_watters]

Yes.

Btw, air pressure is not the same at 1m as at 100m. Pilots use barometers (air pressure sensors) to measure their altitude.

 

[gmax137]

Btw, air pressure is not the same at 1m as at 100m. Pilots use barometers (air pressure sensors) to measure their altitude.

I'm sure (!? uh -ohh better to stop typing now) that he meant 1 meter or 100 meters depth.

 

[ImAnEngineer]

I'm sure (!? uh -ohh better to stop typing now) that he meant 1 meter or 100 meters depth.

I think he meant something like that, yes.

I quote:

Why is the force from air pushing down on the surface of water the same at 1m as it is at 100m?

This question makes no sense. There is no surface at 1m (depth?) or 100m. I'm guessing that you meant why you always have to add up the air pressure at the surface of the water whether we're talking about (total) pressures at 1m depth or 100m depth. I think the OP understands the answer already, but just to be sure. If you put three hamburgers on top of each other and you squash the top one, the bottom one will also get squashed, and not only the first (and second). :)

I'm hungry now.

 

[russ_watters]

I'm sure (!? uh -ohh better to stop typing now) that he meant 1 meter or 100 meters depth.

Perhaps, but does it really matter...?

If you drop a closed 100m pipe into the water, you can still use a barometric altimeter in it.