[Science Form 5] Forceful Fluidity

When a force is applied onto a liquid, the pressure created in the liquid acts in all directions. This is because when liquid is at a standstill, matter in the liquid is distributed evenly, and because of this, pressure is also distributed throughout equally. This property of liquid is captured in the hydraulic principle, which is used widely in hydraulic jacks and hydraulic brakes. The principle is based on the formula: F₁/A₁ = F₂/A₂

A small force F₁ applied on area A₁ is transferred onto a liquid and then onto on an area A₂, which subsequently produces a huge force F₂.

Note: The larger the area, the larger the force is, and thus, a greater weight can be supported.

Eg: A force of 2N is applied on area of 1m². If the area on the other end is 10m², what is the force generated at the same end?
10 times more, which is 2N x 10 = 20N

Also, pressure in liquid is seen as energy per unit volume (using the definition of work). The relationship can be easily explained by the Bernoulli's Equation.

P = Force/Area = F/A = (F x d)/(A x d) = W/V = Energy/Volume