6.

7 Fluid Pressure and Fluid Force

The pressure at any point on a dam depends only on how
Fact #1:
far below the water surface the point is and not how much
the dam wall happens to be tilted at that point!

h
(depth)

. . .

Pascal's Principle

Dams are made thicker at the bottom than at the top

Fact #2:
because the pressure against them increases with depth!

.. ..
. . .
. . .
...... . .
. . .
. . ..  . 
. . ..  . 
...... ... . ... .
. . ..  . 
. . . . . ..  . 
. . ..  .  . . ..  . 

1
 Def. of Fluid Pressure
The pressure on an object at depth h in a liquid is

Pressure = p = w h
.

where w is the weight‐density of the liquid per unit

of volume.

water w = 62.4  lbs. /ft 3

p470      list

units!

p = w h.

= ft/ /
lbs.  . ft
/

32

p=
lbs. 
/

ft2

2
The Constant‐Depth (object submerged horizontally(
Formula for Fluid Force:

Fluid force = F = ( ((
Force per . Area of (
unit area object

= pressure . Area

= p .A
(w h A (
F = . .

units!

Force = lbs. . ft . ft2 = lbs.

/

ft3

3
Examples: Constant Depth
1.)
Find the fluid force on a rectangular metal sheet measuring 3 feet by 4 feet that is 
submerged horizontally in 6 feet of water.

3
4

4
 The Variable‐Depth (object submerged vertically (
Integral Formula for Fluid Force:

surface x
of fluid

h(y) = depth
d |
F = pressure . Area
(
= (w . depth . ( length . width
(  y 
L(y)

( (
= ( w . h(y) . ( L(y)    y 
c
|

L(y)

F
n

= w ||   ||
lim
0 i = 1
h(yi ) . L(yi )    y 
  .  

F = w h(y).L(y) dy 
c

where  h(y)  =  depth of fluid  at  y
and   L(y)  =  horizontal length of the region at  y.

5
 Variable Depth
2.) Fluid Force on a Vertical Surface
Example 2 p472

A vertical gate in a dam has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid 8 feet across the top and 
6 feet across the bottom, with a height of 5 feet.  What is the fluid force on the gate if the 
top of the gate is 4 feet below the surface of the water?

4 ft
| 8 ft |
|

|
5 ft
|

| 6 ft |

y
x

4 ft
4 ft 4 ft
h(y) =
|

x
5 ft y 
|

3 ft 3 ft

depth = h(y) =
length = L(y) =
y
x

4 ft
4 ft 4 ft
(     ,     )
|

x
5 ft y 

(     ,     )
|

3 ft 3 ft

6
A vertical gate in a dam has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid 8 feet across the top and 
6 feet across the bottom, with a height of 5 feet.  What is the fluid force on the gate if the 
top of the gate is 4 feet below the surface of the water?

7
 Variable Depth
3.) Fluid Force on a Vertical Surface
A triangular plate, base 5 feet, height 6 feet, is submerged in water, vertex down, plane 
vertical, and 2 feet below the surface.  Find the total force on one face of the plate.

y
water
surface
{
2 ft
| 5 ft |
depth = h(y) =

|
L(y)
y 
6 ft
y
x
|

Example 3 p473
4.) See CIRCULAR observation window

8
 Assignment
p474 #1, 3, 5-10 all, #11-19 odd