Chemistry / Unit 7 Chem 1210 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Hydrostatic Pressure
Captions available
The idea
Hydrostatic pressure is a fluid's pressure from gravity, equal to its density times column height times gravitational acceleration.
In practice
A taller column of the same liquid exerts proportionally more pressure at its base.
Where people slip
A denser liquid needs a shorter column for the same pressure, which is why mercury barometers are far shorter than water ones.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Chemistry