Underwater Pressure formula |
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\( p_u \;=\; \rho \cdot g\cdot d \) (Underwater Pressure) \( \rho \;=\; \dfrac{ p_u }{ g\cdot d }\) \( g \;=\; \dfrac{ p_u }{ \rho \cdot d }\) \( d \;=\; \dfrac{ p_u }{ \rho \cdot g }\) |
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| Symbol | English | Metric |
| \( p_u \) = Underwater Pressure | \(lbf\;/\;in^2\) | \(Pa\) |
| \( \rho \) (Greek symbol rho) = Density of Water | \(lbm\;/\;ft^3\) | \(kg\;/\;m^3\) |
| \( g \) = Gravitational Aacceleration | \(ft\;/\;sec^2\) | \(m\;/\;s^2\) |
| \( d \) = Depth Under Water | \(ft\) | \(m\) |
Underwater pressure, abbreviated as \(p_u\), also called hydrostatic pressure or water pressure, is the force exerted by the weight of water at a given depth in a body of water, such as the ocean, a lake, or a swimming pool. It is a result of the gravitational pull on the water column above a specific point in the water.
As you descend deeper underwater, the pressure increases linearly with depth. For every 10 meters (33 feet) you descend in seawater, you experience an increase in pressure of approximately 1 atmosphere (atm). At the surface, the pressure is approximately 1 atm (101.3 kPa), but at a depth of 10 meters, it is roughly 2 atm, and at 20 meters, it is approximately 3 atm, and so on.
Understanding underwater pressure is essential for various applications, including scuba diving, submarine operations, and the design of underwater structures. Divers need to be aware of pressure changes to avoid conditions like decompression sickness, which can result from rapid changes in pressure during ascent. Submarines and underwater vehicles also need to account for pressure changes to ensure their structural integrity.
