Pressing all around

The idea

Liquids exert pressure not only on the bottom of a container but also on its sides, that is, in all directions.

A bottle with holes

A bottle has holes on its sides near the bottom. You fill it with water.

What happens at the holes?

• Water flows out sideways
• Nothing comes out
• Water flows only upward

Fill and look

Press Next step to see where the water presses.

Pressure everywhere

When water flows out of the holes on the side, it tells us water presses on the sides of the container too. A leaking water pipe makes water spurt out like a fountain for the same reason.

Liquids press at the bottom and on the sides of a container. Liquids press in all directions.

Notes

Liquids press on the bottom and on the sides, in all directions.

Check yourself

Water comes out of the side holes of a bottle. This shows that water presses on the …

Liquids press …

Water spurts out like a fountain from a hole in a water pipe. This is because …

Water flowing from a hole on the side of a bottle shows pressure in which direction?

• top of the water only. Water flowing out sideways shows pressure on the sides.
• sides of the container — correct. Yes!
• table only. The sideways flow shows pressure on the sides.
• only downward. Liquids also press on the sides, so not only downward.
• only on the bottom. Water flowed out of the sides, so liquids press on the sides too.
• in all directions — correct. Yes!
• the water presses on the wall of the pipe — correct. Yes!
• the pipe is empty. The pipe is full of water pressing on its wall.
• air pulls the water out. Water presses on the wall and pushes out through the hole.
• Only downward. The water came out sideways, so there is pressure sideways.
• Sideways — correct. Yes!
• Only upward. The water came out sideways.