Hydrostatic pressure
A fluid weighs down
and exerts pressure on the walls and the bottom of the receptacle which
contains it and on the surface of any object submerged in it. This
pressure, called hydrostatic pressure
provokes, in fluids at rest, a perpendicular force on the walls of the
receptacle or the surface of the submerged object whichever way they
are facing.
If the liquid were flowing, the forces would no longer be perpendicular to the surfaces.
Always remember that pressure is not a force.
NB. The point of application of the forces should be
situated on the surface areas. In this animation the red force is not
correctly applied for reasons to do with the design.
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