13.1Fluid Pressure
 Key Concepts
How is pressure calculated?
How does water pressure change with depth?
How is pressure distributed at a given level in a fluid?
How does air pressure change with altitude?
 Vocabulary
pressure
pascal
fluid
 Reading Strategy
 Using Prior Knowledge   Before reading the section, print out the table below. In it, write the common definition of the word pressure. After you have read the section, write the scientific definition of pressure and contrast it to your original definition.
 

Why is a theater seat so much more comfortable than a bicycle seat? One of the main reasons any seat is comfortable is the pressure it exerts on your body. As you read this chapter, you'll learn about pressure, and how fluids such as air and water can exert and transmit pressure.

Figure 1  Because the theater seat exerts a supporting force over a larger area, it is more comfortable than the bicycle seat.

 
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