hydrostatische

Hydrostatics is the branch of fluid statics that studies fluids at rest. It analyzes how pressure is distributed within liquids under the influence of gravity and how this pressure depends on depth, density, and boundary conditions. In many practical problems the fluid is assumed incompressible and the gravitational field is uniform.

The fundamental relation in hydrostatics expresses how pressure increases with depth: p = p0 + ρ g h, where p0 is the pressure at a reference surface (often the free surface), ρ is the fluid density, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the depth below the reference surface. This leads to a hydrostatic pressure field that acts equally in all directions at a given point. The surface at the fluid’s boundary often is exposed to atmospheric pressure, which sets p0 in open systems.

Buoyancy is another central concept. According to Archimedes’ principle, a submerged or partially submerged body experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid. This force depends on the fluid density and the volume of the object, and it governs the behavior of submerged structures and floating bodies.

Measurement tools in hydrostatics include barometers (measuring atmospheric pressure), manometers (pressure differences), and piezometers (point pressure readings in a fluid). Applications span dam design and structural forces on submerged surfaces, underwater vehicles, tanks and piping, and the design of hydraulic systems where static pressure distribution is essential.

Limitations include neglecting fluid motion, compressibility, and surface tension effects. When fluids are in motion or subject to significant density changes, hydrodynamics, not hydrostatics, provides the appropriate framework.