Pressure gradient force

The pressure-gradient force is the force which results when there is a difference in pressure across a surface. In general, a pressure is a force per unit area, across a surface. A difference in pressure across a surface then implies a difference in force, which can result in an acceleration according to Newton's second law of motion, if there is no additional force to balance it. The resulting force is always directed from the region of higher-pressure to the region of lower-pressure. When a fluid is in an equilibrium state (i.e. there are no net forces, and no acceleration), the system is referred to as being in hydrostatic equilibrium. In the case of atmospheres, the pressure gradient force is balanced by the gravitational force, maintaining hydrostatic equilibrium. In Earth's atmosphere, for example, air pressure decreases at altitudes above Earth's surface, thus providing a pressure gradient force which counteracts the force of gravity on the atmosphere.

Consider a cubic parcel of fluid with a density ${\displaystyle \rho }$, a height ${\displaystyle dz}$, and a surface area ${\displaystyle dA}$. The mass of the parcel can be expressed as, ${\displaystyle m=\rho \cdot dA\cdot dz}$. Using Newton's second law, ${\displaystyle F=m\cdot a}$, we can then examine a pressure difference ${\displaystyle dP}$ (assumed to be only in the ${\displaystyle z}$-direction) to find the resulting force, ${\displaystyle F=-dP\cdot dA=\rho \cdot dA\cdot dz\cdot a}$.

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