How can I calculate underwater pressure quickly

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating underwater pressure using the formula P = ρgh, where ρ is fluid density, g is gravitational acceleration, and h is the height of the fluid column. Participants confirm that this formula is effective for practical applications, noting that an additional atmospheric pressure of about 1 atm is added for every 10 meters of water depth. They also discuss the conversion of pressure units, specifically from pascals to bars, with 1 bar equating to 100,000 pascals. The importance of considering initial atmospheric pressure at sea level is highlighted, especially in contexts like submarine analysis. Overall, the formula P = ρgh remains the standard for calculating hydrostatic pressure.
Charlie Kay
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Does anyone know a simple formula to calculate underwater pressure?
 
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I have the formula "P=r*g*h" when r=fluid density, g=Acceleration of gravity and h=height of fluid.

Got this off NASA
 
Charlie Kay said:
I have the formula "P=r*g*h" when r=fluid density, g=Acceleration of gravity and h=height of fluid.
Same thing. (##\rho## is the common symbol for density.)
 
The simplest way you can get is 1 extra atmospheric pressure per 10 metres of water column.
 
Brilliant, that's just what I was looking for! :-)
 
How much Is normal atmospheric pressure?
 
1 atm or very close to 1 bar, or very close to 100 000 Pascals.

In the spirit of the forum I'd encourage you to take the earlier-posted equations and plug in the numbers for 10 metres of water, and see if it really comes down to 100 000 Pascals. You need density of water in kg/m^3.
 
Charlie Kay said:
Brilliant, that's just what I was looking for! :-)

Of course Bandersnatch's answer is an approximation - but quite good enough for all practical purposes. It would be a good exercise to calculate exactly what the pressure increase from ten meters of water is using the ##\rho{g}h## formula - google will find the values of the various physical constants you'll need - and see just how good of an approximation it is, whether it is sensitive to small changes in the temperature of the water.
 
  • #10
Thanks:-)
 
  • #11
Just wandering if there are any other formulas for it?!
 
  • #12
Charlie Kay said:
Just wandering if there are any other formulas for it?!

##\rho{g}h## is pretty much the gold standard here. You can make additional corrections if ##\rho## or ##g## aren't constant, but for any problem involving reasonable liquids on or around the surface of the earth, these are just rounding errors.
 
  • #13
Hey guys I've collected some information and I can now calculate "P=r*g*h" It is:

999.99 X 9.81 X 11000 = 107 908 920.9
Fluid Density X Acceleration Due To Gravity X Height Of Fluid = Pressure

But this is it pascal, does anyone know the conversion rate from pascal to bar?
 
  • #14
Charlie Kay said:
But this is it pascal, does anyone know the conversion rate from pascal to bar?
1 bar = 100,000 Pa.
 
  • #15
While we appreciate the traffic, Google will answer these questions in milliseconds...
 
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  • #16
And don't forget what 'snatch said: "1 extra atmospheric pressure per 10 metres".
People often forget there's an initial 1 atm at sea level.
 
  • #17
DaveC426913 said:
And don't forget what 'snatch said: "1 extra atmospheric pressure per 10 metres".
People often forget there's an initial 1 atm at sea level.
That often falls out of the analysis (for example, for a submarine), but yes, that thought should at least be processed at the start of the analysis.
 
  • #18
russ_watters said:
While we appreciate the traffic, Google will answer these questions in milliseconds...

But it's not as friendly and it doest'n give you a straight answer
 
  • #19
Charlie Kay said:
But it's not as friendly and it doest'n give you a straight answer
It certainly has its limitations, but it is a life-skill everyone should have.
 
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