Definition of Pascal's Principle

In relation to hydrostatics and fluid mechanics there is a basic principle known as Pascal's Principle. According to it, the pressure exerted by a fluid contained in a container is always fixed and constant in all directions. This implies that from a force very small it is possible to move a heavy object.

This phenomenon occurs due to the action of pressure, which is equal to the exerted force divided by the surface (the force is measured in newtons and the surface in square meters). As the pressure is the same everywhere, the relationship between the forces and the surface remains constant.

Applications that we can observe

If a plunger filled with Water It is connected to a hollow sphere with holes on its surface and pressure is exerted on the plunger, the result is that the water comes out of all the holes in the sphere with the same pressure. This specific example can be extrapolated to functioning from a hydraulic press, to the braking mechanism of a car or to cooling systems.

Pascal's principle not only explains the operation of hydraulic type devices or of a fluid within an enclosure, but also allows us to understand the effect of the atmosphere on the liquids.

The importance of Pascal's Principle is also shown in a curious fact: in the international system of units there is the pascal, a Unit pressure whose symbol is Pa and has this name in honor of Blaise Pascal.

Remembering Pascal

This seventeenth-century scientist of French nationality died at the age of 39. He has gone down in history for his research on fluids and hydrostatics, but also on many other areas of knowledge.

On geometry There is the famous Pascal triangle, in the calculation of probabilities it is considered a precursor and in the plane of the technology he developed a mechanical calculator very advanced in his time. In this sense, some historians of science consider that the some contributions of Pascal represent one of the first theoretical views in the field of science. computing.

After suffering an accident from which he was miraculously unharmed, Pascal abandoned his scientific research and devoted himself to theology and philosophy, two fields of knowledge where he once again demonstrated his intellectual worth. In philosophy he maintained a rationalist stance and in theological questions he tried to reconcile the approaches of the Christian faith with the principles of reason.

Photos: Fotolia - Aleksey Stemmer / Pilarts