Hydrostatics - Physics (Senior Secondary)
Fluids at rest hold the secret to how dams withhold massive water volumes and how hydraulic systems lift heavy loads. This course dissects the behaviour of stationary fluids, covering the fundamental principles of pressure, density, and buoyancy that govern everything from water storage in homes to the stability of ships. You will move beyond simple theory to master the mechanics behind fluid behaviour, ensuring you understand the physics that keeps our world functioning safely and efficiently.
Understanding hydrostatics is essential for careers in civil, mechanical, and marine engineering. You will gain the ability to calculate pressure at varying depths, determine upthrust, and predict how objects float or sink in different liquids. These concepts are the foundation for designing plumbing systems, irrigation networks, and industrial machinery, allowing you to approach real-world engineering problems with precision and confidence.
By the end of this course, you will define and apply Archimedes’ principle and Pascal’s principle to solve complex physics problems. You will be able to calculate hydraulic press mechanical advantages, measure atmospheric pressure using barometers, and determine the density of various substances using the law of flotation. You will also develop the skills to analyse how pressure changes with depth in a continuous fluid and solve numerical problems regarding the equilibrium of submerged or floating bodies.
This course is built for senior secondary students preparing for physics examinations, but it provides a necessary primer for any undergraduate starting a degree in engineering or the physical sciences. Even if you are not currently enrolled in formal schooling, the logical framework provided here will sharpen your problem-solving skills and technical literacy. By mastering these basics, you gain a competitive edge in any field that requires a rigorous, analytical approach to the physical environment.
$ 9.99
Enrolment valid for 12 months
This course is also part of the following learning track. You may join the track to gain comprehensive knowledge across related courses.
Physics
Physics controls every machine, building, and system you will design or maintain. This complete programme covers every topic required for the JAMB UTME physics paper. You will move past basic definitions and learn to solve exact problems using standard laws and formulas. We focus strictly on measurements, mechanics, thermal properties, waves, electricity, and modern physics. You will gain a working knowledge of the physical world without unnecessary theory.
This track suits senior secondary students preparing for WAEC, NECO, or JAMB examinations. It serves first-year university undergraduates in engineering or physical sciences who require a firm foundation. Technical beginners and independent learners who plan to enter engineering, medicine, telecommunications, or skilled trades will find these lessons essential for their next steps.
You will finish able to calculate forces, analyse electrical circuits, predict wave behaviour, and explain atomic interactions. You will interpret laboratory data, apply mathematical models to physical systems, and answer examination questions with speed and accuracy. This preparation secures high scores in national entrance tests and builds the technical base required for university engineering degrees or direct entry into professional technical work.
Physics
Physics controls every machine, building, and system you will design or maintain. This complete programme covers every topic required for the JAMB UTME physics paper. You will move past basic definitions and learn to solve exact problems using standard laws and formulas. We focus strictly on measurements, mechanics, thermal properties, waves, electricity, and modern physics. You will gain a working knowledge of the physical world without unnecessary theory.
This track suits senior secondary students preparing for WAEC, NECO, or JAMB examinations. It serves first-year university undergraduates in engineering or physical sciences who require a firm foundation. Technical beginners and independent learners who plan to enter engineering, medicine, telecommunications, or skilled trades will find these lessons essential for their next steps.
You will finish able to calculate forces, analyse electrical circuits, predict wave behaviour, and explain atomic interactions. You will interpret laboratory data, apply mathematical models to physical systems, and answer examination questions with speed and accuracy. This preparation secures high scores in national entrance tests and builds the technical base required for university engineering degrees or direct entry into professional technical work.
Physics controls every machine, building, and system you will design or maintain. This complete programme covers every topic required for the JAMB UTME physics paper. You will move past basic definitions and learn to solve exact problems using standard laws and formulas. We focus strictly on measurements, mechanics, thermal properties, waves, electricity, and modern physics. You will gain a working knowledge of the physical world without unnecessary theory. This track suits senior secondary students preparing for WAEC, NECO, or JAMB examinations. It serves first-year university undergraduates in engineering or physical sciences who require a firm foundation. Technical beginners and independent learners who plan to enter engineering, medicine, telecommunications, or skilled trades will find these lessons essential for their next steps. You will finish able to calculate forces, analyse electrical circuits, predict wave behaviour, and explain atomic interactions. You will interpret laboratory data, apply mathematical models to physical systems, and answer examination questions with speed and accuracy. This preparation secures high scores in national entrance tests and builds the technical base required for university engineering degrees or direct entry into professional technical work.
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Course Chapters
1. Introduction410
1. Introduction
4
10
This chapter establishes density, pressure, and atmospheric pressure — the foundations of hydrostatics. You will learn the relationship between mass, volume, and density, and how pressure in liquids depends on depth and fluid density.
You will define density and relative density, calculate pressure using P = hdg, and explain how atmospheric pressure changes with altitude. You will also convert pressure units and determine the force on container bases.
Concept Overviews
4 Lessons
Problem Walkthroughs
10 Lessons
2. Transmission of Pressure23
2. Transmission of Pressure
2
3
This chapter covers Pascal's principle: pressure applied to a confined liquid is transmitted equally throughout. You will learn how hydraulic machines multiply force.
You will state Pascal's principle, calculate mechanical advantage, and determine the force on the large piston given the effort on the small piston. You will also apply the principle to the hydraulic Jack and brake.
Concept Overviews
2 Lessons
Problem Walkthroughs
3 Lessons
3. Measurement of Pressure34
3. Measurement of Pressure
3
4
This chapter covers instruments for measuring pressure: the manometer, barometer, and sphygmomanometer. You will learn how gas pressure is determined with a manometer and how atmospheric pressure is measured using simple, Fortin, and aneroid barometers.
You will calculate gas pressure from manometer readings, determine atmospheric pressure from barometric height, and explain why mercury is the preferred barometric fluid. You will also use the aneroid barometer as an altimeter.
Concept Overviews
3 Lessons
Problem Walkthroughs
4 Lessons
4. Upthrust and Archimedes' Principle34
4. Upthrust and Archimedes' Principle
3
4
This chapter introduces upthrust and Archimedes' principle, which governs the behaviour of bodies in fluids. You will learn how pressure differences produce an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of fluid displaced.
You will calculate upthrust, determine apparent weight, and verify Archimedes' principle experimentally. You will also solve problems involving spring balances and immersed objects.
Concept Overviews
3 Lessons
Problem Walkthroughs
4 Lessons
5. Law of Flotation45
5. Law of Flotation
4
5
This chapter covers the law of flotation and its applications. You will learn the conditions for floating, sinking, and partial submersion, and how the fraction of volume immersed relates to density.
You will apply the principle to determine liquid density, calculate submerged fractions, and explain the operation of the hydrometer. You will also solve problems involving ships and other floating objects.
Concept Overviews
4 Lessons
Problem Walkthroughs
5 Lessons
6. Viscosity23
6. Viscosity
2
3
This chapter covers viscosity as internal friction in fluids, its effects on objects moving through liquids, and the concept of terminal velocity. You will learn how viscous drag opposes the motion of a falling body and increases with velocity until equilibrium is reached.
You will define viscosity, identify the three forces acting on a body falling through a liquid, and derive the condition for terminal velocity. You will also compare viscosity and solid friction, and explain the effect of temperature on the viscosity of liquids.
Concept Overviews
2 Lessons
Problem Walkthroughs
3 Lessons
7. Conclusion1
7. Conclusion
1
This chapter consolidates hydrostatics: pressure in liquids, Pascal's principle, Archimedes' principle, and the law of flotation. You will review key definitions, laws, and problem-solving strategies.
You will apply pressure-depth relations, calculate hydraulic mechanical advantage, determine upthrust and apparent weight, and solve flotation problems. You will also integrate these concepts to tackle multi-step examination questions.
Concept Overviews
1 Lesson