- #36
jbriggs444
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
- 12,863
- 7,524
Force is a vector. Pressure has gradients. You cannot compute total force by multiplying total surface area by average pressure.Chuzzled said:I stated that as soon as you open the hole pressure goes down. If pressure goes down force must also go down. That's math.
If you reduce pressure on one side of the pipe, net force goes up, not down.
A gradient is the opposite of a potential.Chuzzled said:Pressure gradient force is a potential force. Like buoyancy. You push down a less dense object into water giving potential energy. You let go and the object moves upwards but does not apply a force in the opposing direction.
The if a vector field is the "gradient" of a scalar field, then the vector field is conservative and the scalar field is the "potential" of the vector field.