Pascal's law

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search See also: Pascal (unit) In the physical sciences, Pascal's law or Pascal's principle states that "a change in the pressure of an enclosed incompressible fluid is conveyed undiminished to every part of the fluid and to the surfaces of its container."[ ! "he difference of pressure due to a difference in elevation #ithin a fluid column is given by: #here, using $I units, % is the hydrostatic pressure &in pascals', or the difference in pressure at t#o points #ithin a fluid column, due to the #eight of the fluid( ) is the fluid density &in kilograms per cubic meter'( g is sea level acceleration due to *arth+s gravity &in meters per second s,uared'( h is the height of fluid above &in meters', or the difference in elevation bet#een the t#o points #ithin the fluid column. "he intuitive e-planation of this formula is that the change in pressure bet#een t#o elevations is due to the #eight of the fluid bet#een the elevations. .ote that the variation #ith height does not depend on any additional pressures. "herefore %ascal+s la# can be interpreted as saying that any change in pressure applied at any given point of the fluid is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid.

Pascal's Principle and Hydraulics

/ydraulic systems use a incompressible fluid, such as oil or #ater, to transmit forces from one location to another #ithin the fluid. 0ost aircraft use hydraulics in the braking systems and landing gear. %neumatic systems use compressible fluid, such as air, in their operation. $ome aircraft utili1e pneumatic systems for their brakes, landing gear and movement of flaps.

Pascal's law states that when there is an increase in pressure at any point in a confined fluid, there is an equal increase at every other point in the container. 2 container, as sho#n belo#, contains a fluid. "here is an increase in pressure as the length of the column of li,uid increases, due to the increased mass of the fluid above. For e-ample, in the figure belo#, %3 #ould be the highest value of the three pressure readings, because it has the highest level of fluid above it.

If the above container had an increase in overall pressure, that same added pressure #ould affect each of the gauges &and the li,uid throughout' the same. For e-ample % , %4, %3 #ere originally , 3, 5 units of pressure, and 5 units of pressure #ere added to the system, the ne# readings #ould be 6, 7, and 8. 2pplied to a more comple- system belo#, such as a hydraulic car lift, %ascal+s la# allo#s forces to be multiplied. "he cylinder on the left sho#s a cross9section area of s,uare inch, #hile the cylinder on the right sho#s a cross9section area of 8 s,uare inches. "he cylinder on the left has a #eight &force' on pound acting do#n#ard on the piston, #hich lo#ers the fluid 8 inches. 2s a result of this force, the piston on the right lifts a 8 pound #eight a distance of inch. "he pound load on the s,uare inch area causes an increase in pressure on the fluid in the system. "his pressure is distributed e,ually throughout and acts on every s,uare inch of the 8 s,uare inch area of the large piston. 2s a result, the larger piston lifts up a 8 pound #eight. "he larger the cross9section area of the second piston, the larger the mechanical advantage, and the more #eight it lifts.

"he formulas that relate to this are sho#n belo#: P1 = P2 &since the pressures are e,ual throughout'. $ince pressure e,uals force per unit area, then it follo#s that F1/A1 = F2/A2 It can be sho#n by substitution that the values sho#n above are correct, pound : square inches ; 8 pounds : 8 square inches

<ecause the volume of fluid pushed do#n on the left side e,uals the volume of fluid that is lifted up on the right side, the follo#ing formula is also true. 1= 2 by substitution,

A1 !1 = A2 !2 A ; cross sectional area ! ; the distance moved

or A1/A2= !2/!1 "his system can be thought of as a simple machine &lever', since force is multiplied."he mechanical advantage can be found by rearranging terms in the above e,uation to "echanical Advanta#e$%"A& = !1/!2 = A2/A1

For the sample problem above, the I02 #ould be 8: & 8 inches: inches : s,uare inch'. =iven these simple formulas, try to ans#er the ,uestions belo#.

inch or 8 s,uare