Vertical pressure variation

Vertical pressure variation is the change in fluid pressure with elevation. In a fluid at rest, pressure increases downward because each point supports the weight of fluid above it.

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Hydrostatic equilibrium: A state in which pressure forces balance body forces such as gravity, leaving a fluid at rest. It expresses the balance that produces pressure changes with height.
Hydrostatic pressure: Pressure at a point in a fluid at rest caused by the weight of fluid above it. It is the pressure contribution produced by the vertical fluid column.
Pressure: Force exerted perpendicular to a surface per unit area. Vertical variation is a spatial change in this scalar quantity.
Dynamic pressure: The pressure scale associated with fluid motion, commonly defined as one-half density times speed squared. It arises from flow speed, not solely from the weight of fluid above a point.
Hydrostatic equation: The relation between vertical pressure gradient, fluid density, and gravitational acceleration in a fluid at rest. It quantifies how pressure changes over a given vertical distance.
Manometer: An instrument that measures pressure using the height difference of a liquid column. Its reading converts a vertical pressure difference into a measurable height difference.
Gauge pressure: Pressure measured relative to the surrounding atmospheric pressure rather than absolute vacuum. Hydrostatic formulas often describe a pressure difference, which can be reported as gauge pressure.
Bernoulli's principle: A relation among pressure, speed, and elevation along a streamline in steady, ideal fluid flow. It includes elevation alongside motion, rather than describing static pressure variation alone.
Fluid density: Mass per unit volume of a fluid, which can vary with temperature, composition, and pressure. Density determines how much fluid weight contributes to a pressure difference.
Barometer: An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, commonly using a liquid column or a sealed sensor. Its readings track atmospheric pressure changes associated with altitude and weather.