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Grade - 8 (BLE) Physics Pressure

Why are the dams made wider at the base?

Dams are made wider at the base. Why?

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As we know liquid pressure increases with depth. So, to prevent the dams from collapsing due to the enormous liquid pressure, they are made wider at the base.

pressure distribution in dam

In the diagram above we can see a dam. The dam is thicker at the bottom while thinner at the top. If the dam were thinner at the bottom the increased pressure at the bottom of the reservoir would push the dam away and destroy everything. This is why the bottom of the dam is made thicker so that it could withstand strong water pressure which increases by the increase in the depth.

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Things to Remember From Pressure

  • The force acting perpendicularly on per unit surface area is called pressure. Its SI unit is N/m2 or Pascal.
  • The pressure exerted by the atmosphere is called atmospheric pressure.
  • The normal atmospheric pressure i.e. atmospheric pressure at the sea level is 760 mm of Hg.
  • Air has weight and it can be easily be compressed.
  • Air occupies space.
  • Atmospheric pressure decreases with the increase in altitude.
  • The pressure exerted by the liquid is called the liquid pressure.
  • Liquid exerts pressure at the bottom of the vessel as well as on the sides of the vessel in which it is kept.
  • Liquid pressure increases with the increase in depth.
  • Liquid exerts pressure equally in all directions.
  • When the pressure is applied to an enclosed liquid, then it transmits pressure equally in all directions. This is called Pascal's law.
  • Liquid pressure increases with the increase in the density of the liquids.

Topics from Physics

Physical Quantities 27 Electricity & Magnetism 48 Motion 8 Measurement 4 Electricity 166 Physical Optics 80 Waves 117 Force 51 Heat 137 Laws of Motion 1 Light 100 Pressure 139 Thermodynamics 1

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