Free Hydrostatic Pressure Calculator
Calculate the pressure at a given depth below the surface of a fluid.
kg/m^3
m
kPa
Gauge Pressure
98.10 kPa
Absolute Pressure199.43 kPa
Gauge Pressure vs Fluid Density (rho)
Hydrostatic Pressure
Pressure in a static fluid increases linearly with depth due to the weight of the fluid above.
Formula
P_gauge = rho g h
P_absolute = P_atm + rho g h
where rho is fluid density, g = 9.81 m/s^2, and h is the depth below the free surface. For water, pressure increases by approximately 9.81 kPa (about 1 atmosphere per 10.33 m) for each metre of depth.
Example Calculation
10 m below the surface of fresh water at standard atmospheric pressure.
- 01Gauge pressure = 1000 x 9.81 x 10 = 98,100 Pa = 98.10 kPa
- 02Absolute pressure = 101.325 + 98.10 = 199.43 kPa
- 03This is approximately 2 atmospheres absolute.
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