Under Pressure

Unless you’re a diver or have spent some time at high altitudes, you probably haven’t put too much thought into the intricacies of pressure. It is affected by multiple factors in various ways, and it is much easier to understand if you are presented with a simulation.

Under Pressure is a Java-based program that can be used by teachers to demonstrate the basic principles of physics that influence pressure in both the atmosphere and fluids. It includes three simulations and allows you to fine-tune a number of parameters.

The first simulation is quite simple. It enables you to add or remove fluid from a rectangular container and measure the pressure at various depths, as well as in the surrounding atmosphere.

You can change the gravity and fluid’s density to see how pressure is affected, as well as remove the atmosphere altogether.

As we know, the pressure at a certain depth in a fluid’s volume is the same regardless of the container’s shape. With this program, you can illustrate this principle by measuring the pressure at specific points.

The application lets you show how the water level is affected when adding one or more weights to a liquid of various densities.

The application is very easy to use, so you should be able to figure out how everything works in no time. Pressure can be displayed using multiple systems of measurement, and a grid and ruler can be toggled on or off at any time.

Overall, Under Pressure is a simple but very useful program for anyone looking to illustrate how pressure is affected by a wide range of parameters. It is very easy to deploy, but it does require Java to be installed on your system.