The Principles of Hydrostatics

Abstract

Although we have ignored the internal structure of fluids, we cannot doubt that the particles which compose them are material and that for this reason the general laws of equilibrium are as applicable to them as they are to solid bodies. Indeed, the principal property of fluids and the only one which distinguishes them from solid bodies is that all their parts have no resistance against the smallest force and can move among themselves with all possible facility, whatever their mutual action and connection. This property is easily modelled by the calculus and it follows that the laws of equilibrium for fluids do not require a separate theory but that they are only a particular case of the general theory of statics. It is from this point of view that we will consider them. However, we believe that we must begin by presenting the different principles which have been used in the past in this part of statics, which is commonly called hydrostatics, in order to complete the analysis of the principles of statics which we gave in SECTION I.