What does Pascal's law state about pressure transmission in a confined fluid?

What does Pascal's law state about pressure transmission in a confined fluid?

• A. Pressure varies with direction and position.
• B. Pressure is transmitted equally in all directions and to all parts of the fluid.
• C. Pressure only transmits to the nearest walls.
• D. Pressure decreases with distance from the source.

Answer: (B)

Pascal's law says that when you apply pressure to a confined, incompressible fluid, that pressure is transmitted undiminished to every part of the fluid and to the walls of the container. In other words, the pressure acts uniformly in all directions at a given point. This is the principle behind hydraulic systems: a small force on a small piston creates a uniform pressure that is transmitted throughout the fluid, so the same pressure acts on a larger piston and produces a larger output force (F = pressure × area). Hydrostatic pressure from gravity (pressure that increases with depth) is a related concept but separate from this idea of uniform transmission when a pressure change is applied. The key point in Pascal's law is the isotropic, equal transmission of applied pressure throughout the confined fluid.

Pascal's law says that when you apply pressure to a confined, incompressible fluid, that pressure is transmitted undiminished to every part of the fluid and to the walls of the container. In other words, the pressure acts uniformly in all directions at a given point.

This is the principle behind hydraulic systems: a small force on a small piston creates a uniform pressure that is transmitted throughout the fluid, so the same pressure acts on a larger piston and produces a larger output force (F = pressure × area).

Hydrostatic pressure from gravity (pressure that increases with depth) is a related concept but separate from this idea of uniform transmission when a pressure change is applied. The key point in Pascal's law is the isotropic, equal transmission of applied pressure throughout the confined fluid.