- #1
ollien
- 6
- 0
Hey there. I'm trying having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around this.
That pressure is equal at all the same height no matter the shape of the container.
[itex]P = \frac{F}{A}[/itex]
[itex]P = ρgh[/itex]
I'm trying to understand this from my physics class, but I can't seem to get a hold on it. Why does pressure in water only depend on the height? I can understand that pressure at a depth is caused by the weight of the water on top of it, as shown by [itex]P = \frac{F}{A}[/itex]
Now, I know that the following is also true. [itex]P = ρgh[/itex] Now, this equation shows directly that it is related to height, and it can also be rearranged to [itex]P = \frac{F}{A}[/itex]. However, this is where to start to run into issues.
Let's say we have a cylindrical container of fluid, like so.
This cylinder, filled with fluid, will have a pressure on the bottom. Now, let's assume we have a conular container, with the same height, and equal base area, like so.
From my knowledge of [itex]P = ρgh[/itex], I know that the pressures are equal at the base. However, I can't begin to understand why. There is a lower volume of water in the cone, and therefore a lower mass. This means that there's a lower force pressing down from the water than in the cylinder. Because of this, shouldn't there be two different gauge pressures? What's the reasoning for there being equal gauge pressures? I can't begin to figure it out for the life of me.
Thanks so much.
Homework Statement
That pressure is equal at all the same height no matter the shape of the container.
Homework Equations
[itex]P = \frac{F}{A}[/itex]
[itex]P = ρgh[/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm trying to understand this from my physics class, but I can't seem to get a hold on it. Why does pressure in water only depend on the height? I can understand that pressure at a depth is caused by the weight of the water on top of it, as shown by [itex]P = \frac{F}{A}[/itex]
Now, I know that the following is also true. [itex]P = ρgh[/itex] Now, this equation shows directly that it is related to height, and it can also be rearranged to [itex]P = \frac{F}{A}[/itex]. However, this is where to start to run into issues.
Let's say we have a cylindrical container of fluid, like so.
This cylinder, filled with fluid, will have a pressure on the bottom. Now, let's assume we have a conular container, with the same height, and equal base area, like so.
From my knowledge of [itex]P = ρgh[/itex], I know that the pressures are equal at the base. However, I can't begin to understand why. There is a lower volume of water in the cone, and therefore a lower mass. This means that there's a lower force pressing down from the water than in the cylinder. Because of this, shouldn't there be two different gauge pressures? What's the reasoning for there being equal gauge pressures? I can't begin to figure it out for the life of me.
Thanks so much.