How to Calculate Hydrostatic Head Pressure in a Column of Water

Pressure is a force exerted by fluids against surfaces. It is measured in units of force divided by units of area. Examples of pressure units are Pascals and pounds per square inch. Fluid can exert pressure in three ways. It can exert dynamic pressure by flowing. It can exert hydrostatic pressure when it is at rest. If you remove the dynamic and hydrostatic elements of pressure, you are left with static pressure. Hydrostatic pressure is therefore the pressure at a point in the fluid caused by the depth of that point in the fluid.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Calculator

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Measure the height of the column of water using your tape measure. Make a note of this value.

   • 2

     Multiply the height value found in step 1 by the gravitational field strength of the Earth. Make a note of this value.

   • 3

     Multiply the value found in step 2 by the density of water. This value is the hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the column of water.