A vertical column of water 2.31 feet high exerts what pressure in psi at the base?

To determine the pressure exerted by a vertical column of water at its base, you can use the formula for hydrostatic pressure:

[ P = h \times \rho \times g ]

where:

• ( P ) is the pressure in pounds per square foot (psf),

• ( h ) is the height of the water column in feet,

• ( \rho ) is the density of water (approximately 62.4 pounds per cubic foot),

• ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity (which is embedded in the weight of water).

For practical purposes, a simplified version of the formula for pressure in psi can be used, which states that 1 foot of water column generates approximately 0.433 psi at the base.

Thus, for a height of 2.31 feet:

[ P = 2.31 , \text{feet} \times 0.433 , \text{psi/foot} ]

Calculating this:

[ P = 2.31 \times 0.433 \approx 1.0 , \text{psi} ]

This calculation confirms that a vertical column of water 2.31 feet high exerts approximately