What is the pressure at the base of a column of water that is 1 foot high?

The pressure at the base of a column of water can be calculated using the hydrostatic pressure formula, which states that pressure is equal to the height of the water column multiplied by the specific weight of the fluid. For water, the specific weight is approximately 62.4 pounds per cubic foot.

To calculate the pressure at the base of a 1-foot-high column of water, you would multiply the height (1 foot) by the specific weight (62.4 pounds per cubic foot) and then convert that to pounds per square inch (psi). The conversion factor for feet to inches needs to be taken into account, as there are 12 inches in a foot.

By performing the calculation, you find:

Pressure (in psi) = Height (in feet) x Specific Weight (in pounds per cubic foot) / Conversion Factor

Pressure (in psi) = 1 foot x (62.4 pounds per cubic foot) / 144 square inches per square foot

Pressure (in psi) = 62.4 / 144 ≈ 0.433 pounds per square inch.

This result confirms that the pressure at the base of a column of water that is 1 foot high is approximately 0.433 psi, making that