Question

Pressure in a static fluid:

• A. Varies with horizontal distance
• B. Varies with depth
• C. Is constant
• D. Is maximum at the surface

Hint:

In a static fluid, pressure increases with depth but remains constant at any fixed horizontal level.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

In a static fluid (i.e., fluid at rest), the pressure at a given point depends on the vertical depth from the free surface.
This is expressed by the hydrostatic pressure formula: \[ P = P_0 + \rho g h \] Where:
- \( P \) is the pressure at depth,
- \( P_0 \) is the atmospheric pressure at the surface,
- \( \rho \) is the fluid density,
- \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity,
- \( h \) is the depth below the surface.
Thus, pressure increases linearly with depth and is independent of horizontal position in an ideal static fluid.