To determine the pressure at the bottom of a water column, you multiply the height by:

The correct way to find the pressure at the bottom of a water column is by multiplying the height of the column by the specific weight of water, which is approximately 0.434 psi per foot of water. This means that for every foot of water height, the pressure at the bottom increases by 0.434 psi due to the weight of the water above.

This calculation is rooted in the principles of hydrostatics, where the pressure exerted by a fluid in a static state is directly proportional to its height and the density of the fluid. Water’s specific weight, accounting for its density (62.4 lbs/ft³), and converting this into pressure units gives us the 0.434 psi/foot relationship.

Thus, whenever you need to calculate the pressure at a certain depth in a water column, multiplying the height of the column by 0.434 will yield the pressure at that depth in pounds per square inch, making this approach fundamental for anyone dealing with pressure piping and hydraulics.