The container shown in FIGURE EX14.11 is filled with oil. It is open to the atmosphere on the left. a. What is the pressure at point 1?

Key Concepts

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid at rest due to the weight of the fluid above it. It increases with depth in a fluid and is calculated using the formula P = ρgh, where P is the pressure, ρ is the fluid density, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the fluid column above the point in question.

Atmospheric Pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere above a given point. At sea level, this pressure is approximately 101,325 Pa (Pascals). In open containers, the pressure at the surface of the fluid is equal to the atmospheric pressure, which influences the pressure at various points within the fluid.

Pascal's Principle

Pascal's Principle states that when pressure is applied to a confined fluid, the pressure change is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid. This principle is crucial for understanding how pressure is distributed in a fluid, allowing us to determine the pressure at different points within the fluid, such as point 1 in the given scenario.