MCAT Physics

Fluid Pressure

Definition 1 (Pressure). Pressure is the amount of force per unit area. It is typically represented with p.
The mathematical formula for pressure is
F
p=
A
where F is normal force and A is the area of the surface on contact. The SI unit for pressure is the pascal
(Pa), equal to one newton per square meter.
Pa =

kg
N
=
m2
ms2

Definition 2 (Atmospheric Pressure). The pressure exerted by the weight of the air in the atmosphere.
Definition 3 (atm). The standard atmosphere, denoted atm, is a unit of pressure defined such that
1 atm = 101, 325 P a.
This is the amount of atmospheric pressure at sea level.
Definition 4 (Absolute Pressure). This measurement of pressure is zero-referenced against a perfect vacuum.
Definition 5 (Gauge Pressure). This measurement of pressure is zero-referenced against ambient air pressure, so it can be computed as:
pgauge = pabsolute patmosphere
Definition 6 (fluid pressure). The formula that gives the pressure on an object submerged in fluid is
p = gh,
where is the density of the fluid, g is the force of gravity, and h is height of the fluid above the object.
Definition 7 (Archimedes Principle). An object totally or partially immersed in a fluid (liquid or gas) is
buoyed (lifted) up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid that is displaced.
Definition 8 (Specific Gravity). The ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a standard (usually
water for a solid or liquid, or air for a gas). Since specific gravity is a ratio, it does not have units.
Definition 9 (Pascals Principle). A change in pressure at any point in an enclosed fluid at rest is transmitted
undiminished to all points in the fluid. Mathematically, it is stated as:
P = g(h)
where P is the hydrostatic pressure (Pa), or the difference in pressure at who points within a fluid column,
is the fluid density (kg/m2 ), and g is the acceleration due to gravity (m/s2 ); h is the height of fluid above
the point of measurement, or the difference in elevation between the two points within the fluid column (m).
Definition 10 (Poiseuille Law). When a viscous fluid flows through a pipe, the flow has a front that is
shaped like a parabola.
Definition 11 (Volumeric Flow Rate). The volume of fluid which passes per unit of time, or the derivative
of volume with respect to time. It can also be defined by
Q = vA
where Q is the flow rate, A is the cross-sectional area, and v is flow velocity.
Definition 12 (Continuity Equation). Volumeric flow rate is constant. In other words,
Qa = Qb
or
v a Aa = v b Ab .
1

MCAT Physics

Fluid Pressure

Definition 13 (Laminar Flow). This is when fluid flows in parallel layers, with no disruption between the
layers. At low velocities, the fluid tends to flow without lateral mixing, and adjacent layers slide past one
another. It is one of the two types of flow that can occur, and depends on the velocity and viscosity of the
fluid.
Definition 14 (Turbulent Flow). At high enough velocity, fluids do not flow in parallel layers, and instead
interfere with each other.
Definition 15 (Bernoullis Principle). Given that a fluid is incompressible and friction by viscous forces is
negligible, we have
1
1
P1 + v12 + gh1 = P2 + v22 + gh2
2
2
1 2
where P is pressure energy, v1 is kinetic energy, and gh1 is potential energy. So, the Bernoulli equation
2
can be considered as a statement of the conservation of energy principle for flowing fluids.