Pressure vs Height in Non-Uniform Containers
This simulation probes the pressure at any point inside oddly shaped containers, plotting it against depth. The resulting straight-line graph shows that the container's changing width simply does not enter into it.
How to use this simulation
- Move a pressure probe to any depth
- Reshape the container to be wider or narrower at different heights
- Change the liquid density
What to look for
- The pressure-depth graph stays straight even where the container flares
- All points at one horizontal level read the same pressure
- A denser liquid gives a steeper line
The physics behind it
Pressure at depth h below the surface is P = P₀ + ρgh, where P₀ is the pressure at the surface. Because the relationship is linear in h alone, the pressure-versus-depth graph is a straight line whatever the container looks like. Points at the same depth in connected liquid are always at the same pressure.