Industrial Maintenance Technician Practice Test

The correct answer reflects the understanding of how pressure is calculated at the bottom of a column of fluid. According to Pascal's law, pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid.

To determine the pressure at the bottom of a container filled with water, we use the basic formula for pressure, which is derived from the weight of the water and the area over which that weight is distributed. When considering a column of water, the pressure at the bottom can be calculated using the formula:

Pressure (P) = Weight / Area

In the case of a column of water measuring 1 cubic foot with a weight of 62.4 pounds, the area is defined by how the weight is distributed. For a column shaped like a square with a height of 1 foot, the area at the bottom can be simply 1 square foot. Thus, the pressure would be:

P = 62.4 lb / 1 ft² = 62.4 lb/ft²

However, to express pressure in psi (pounds per square inch), it's important to convert the units. There are 144 square inches in a square foot (since 1 ft² = 12 in × 12 in = 144 in