Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
Pascal was a French mathematician,
scientist, inventor, and theologian.
He was a child prodigy who was
educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen.
Pascal was one of the most influential
mathematicians of all time. He was also an expert
in hydrostatics, an inventor, and a well-versed
religious philosopher.
Pascal was a pioneer in the fields of game theory
and probability theory. He laid the foundation for
the modern theory of probabilities. He also
formulated what came to be known as Pascal's
principle of pressure.
Pascal was also a pioneer in the natural and
applied sciences. He made important contributions
to the study of fluids, and clarified the concepts of
pressure and vacuum. He also wrote in defense of
the scientific method.
Pascal is also known for inventing an early digital
calculator, a syringe, a hydraulic press, and the
roulette wheel. In 1642, he created a machine that
would calculate addition and subtraction by using
a series of movable dials. This early calculator was
called the Pascaline.
Introduction
The principle of
fluid pressure is
transmitted in the
machines defined
in "Pascal’s law" and it discovers the force
direction. The direction of the force in the
fluid container gets directed to the pressure
point and the change of fore get occurs
everyplace. The principle of Pascal’s is
associated with fluid mechanics. The
application of this force transmission
principle applies in modern days is the
hydraulic system which is based on "Pascal’s
law" published around 1650 by Blaise Pascal.
Pascal’s Law (1647)
Pascal’s law establishes the relation between
pressure and the height of static fluids. A
static fluid is defined as a fluid that is not in
motion. When the fluid is not flowing, it is
said to be in hydrostatic equilibrium. For a
fluid to be in hydrostatic equilibrium, the net
force on the fluid must be zero. This law can
be applied to a wide range of real-life
applications and hydraulic machines are one
of the widely used applications of this law.
These hydraulic systems allow us to design
shockers and heavy-lifting machines.
Pressure
Pressure is defined as the ratio of
the force applied and the cross-
sectional area. In 1653, Blaise Pascal
published his book The Physical
Treatises of Pascal in which he
discussed the principles of static
fluids. He observed that pressure in
a fluid at rest is the same at all
points if these points are at the
same depth and if we apply external
pressure to this fluid, all the applied
force is distributed throughout the
liquid.
Proof of Pascal’s Law
To prove that the change in pressure
inside a fluid is the same in all
directions, let us consider a tiny volume
in the shape of a triangular prism. One
face is inclined at an angle θ with the
horizontal.
PROOF:
We consider three rectangular faces of the prism.
Fx is the force acting on the face on the YZ
plane. Its area is y×z
.
Fz is the force acting on the face on the XY
plane. Its area is x×y
.
Fs is the force acting on the inclined face. Its
area is s×y From the right-angled triangle,
sinθ=zs
and
cosθ=xs
force=pressure×area
Fx=Px×y×z
Fz=Pz×x×y
Fs=Ps×s×y
Since Fs is inclined at an angle, we take its x
and y coordinate values as
Fssinθ
and Fscosθ
.
Upward Fz and downward Fscosθ are equal
and opposite.
Equating them,
Fz=Fscosθ
Pxyz=Pssy×zs
Pz=Ps
Rightward Fx and leftward Fssinθ are equal
and opposite.
Equating them,
Fx=Fssinθ
Pxyz=Pssy×zs
Px=Ps
This means that,
Px=Pz=Ps
It proves Pascal’s law that the pressure
acting in all directions is the same.
HENCE PROVED!
Applications of Pascal’s Law
Transmission of force and multiplication
of force are the main applications of
Pascal’s Law.
Hydraulic Press or Lift
A hydraulic press achieves
multiplication of force many times over
the amount applied. A small force
applied is magnified many times in a
hydraulic press.
A hydraulic press has two cylinders
topped by airtight pistons that can
move up and down. The two cylinders
are connected by a tube filled with an
incompressible fluid. The force is
applied on the narrow cylinder, and the
load is placed on the broader cylinder.
Initially, no force is applied, so both
pistons are at the same level.
Therefore, the pressure is the same at
all levels of the fluid, according to
Pascal’s law.
Force F1
is applied on the piston over the
narrow cylinder with a cross-sectional
area A1
pushing it down the cylinder.
pressure, P1=F1A1
The increased pressure due to the
applied force spreads throughout the
fluid. As a result, the fluid applies the
same pressure on the movable piston
of the broader cylinder with P2
According to Pascal’s law,
P1=P2
F1A1=F2A2
We can write this as,
F2F1=A2A1
If A2≫A1
, then F2≫F1
There is no change in work. Work done is
the same at both ends.
WORK=FORCE×DISTANCE
W1=F1×d1
W2=F2×d2
W1=W2
This means that,
F2F1=d1d2
For example, if A2=10A1
, then F2=10F1
. Also, d2=110d1
Suppose the broad cylinder has an area ten
times the narrow cylinder. In that case, the
force developed in the wide cylinder is ten
times the force applied
in the narrow end.
To move the load side piston up by
one centimeter, the narrow side
piston must be pushed down by ten
centimeters.
Uses of hydraulic press
1.The hydraulic press is used to press metals in
molding, punching and crushing units.
2.Automobile workshops use hydraulic lifts to lift
the vehicles up.
3.Pressing cotton bales into shape, crushing
seeds for oil are some of the usages of a
hydraulic press.
Hydraulic Jack
It is similar to the hydraulic press but is
smaller than it. We can press the smaller
cylinder by pressing a foot pedal and raise
cars for repairs or removing punctured tyres.
Hydraulic Brakes
4 Wheelers Use Hydraulic Braking Systems.
There is a chamber containing hydraulic fluid
called the brake fluid. When we press the foot
pedal of the brake, there is an increase in
pressure. The brake fluid pressure moves the
two brake shoes that make contact with the
wheel and apply friction on it, thereby slowing
it or stopping it.
Hydraulic systems are used in various
industrial and aircraft systems to control the
movement of different parts
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