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What is Pressure Energy?

Published in Fluid Mechanics 2 mins read

Pressure energy is a form of energy inherent in a fluid (specifically mentioned for liquids in the provided reference) due to the pressure it is under.

Understanding Pressure Energy

According to the reference provided, pressure energy is the energy contained within each unit of a liquid. This energy arises due to the effects of the thermal energy of the liquid's constituent atoms and molecules. Essentially, the pressure exerted by the fluid is associated with energy stored within it.

This concept is particularly relevant in fluid dynamics and hydraulics, where the total energy of a fluid in motion or at rest includes various components like kinetic energy (due to motion), potential energy (due to elevation), and pressure energy.

Pressure Energy Per Unit Volume

The concept of pressure energy is often considered in terms of pressure energy per unit volume. The reference mentions that this value can be obtained by different methods, highlighting that it's a standard way to quantify this energy component within a fluid flow or system. Pressure energy per unit volume is numerically equal to the pressure itself ($P$).

Units of Pressure

While pressure energy is a form of energy, the reference specifically mentions the SI unit for Pressure:

  • The S.I unit of Pressure is Pascal.
  • A Pascal (Pa) can be expressed as Newton per square meters (N/m²).

In contexts involving energy calculations, pressure energy is often represented in units of energy (like Joules) or, when considered per unit volume, in units of pressure (Pascals).

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