What is the Difference Between Pressure of Solids and Liquids?

The main difference between the pressure of solids and liquids lies in the way they exert force on their surroundings. Here are the key differences:

1. Direction of Pressure: Solids exert pressure only on their base downwards due to their weight, while liquids exert pressure at all points in every direction. This is because the atoms inside a solid are static, and there is no creation of pressure by the momentum change of a solid. In contrast, the pressure of a liquid arises due to both its weight and the movement of its molecules.
2. Shape: Solids have a definite shape, and the pressure on the side of the solid, which is perpendicular to the weight vector, is always zero. In contrast, liquids take the shape of the container they are in, and their pressure acts on the container's walls.
3. Force Applied: Solids exert pressure because of their weight, while fluids exert pressure because of the collision between the molecules and the walls of the container in which they are held.

In summary, the pressure of solids arises only due to their weight, while the pressure of liquids arises due to both their weight and the movement of their molecules. Solids exert pressure only on their base downwards, while liquids exert pressure at all points in every direction. Solids have a definite shape, whereas liquids take the shape of their container.

Comparative Table: Pressure of Solids vs Liquids

The difference between the pressure of solids and liquids lies in the factors that contribute to their pressure. Here is a table summarizing the key differences:

In summary, the pressure of solids is solely due to the weight of the solid, while the pressure of liquids is due to both the weight of the liquid and the movement of its molecules.