Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Hydrostatic?

\Hy`dro*stat"ic\, Hydrostatical \Hy`dro*stat"ic*al\, a. [Hydro-, 1 + Gr. ? causing to stand: cf. F. hydrostatique. See {Static}.] Of or relating to hydrostatics; pertaining to, or in accordance with, the principles of the equilibrium of fluids. The first discovery made in hydrostatics since the time of Archimedes is due to Stevinus. --Hallam. {Hydrostatic balance}, a balance for weighing substances in water, for the purpose of ascertaining their specific gravities. {Hydrostatic bed}, a water bed. {Hydrostatic bellows}, an apparatus consisting of a water-tight bellowslike case with a long, upright tube, into which water may be poured to illustrate the hydrostatic paradox. {Hydrostatic paradox}, the proposition in hydrostatics that any quantity of water, however small, may be made to counterbalance any weight, however great; or the law of the equality of pressure of fluids in all directions. {Hydrostatic press}, a machine in which great force, with slow motion, is communicated to a large plunger by means of water forced into the cylinder in which it moves, by a forcing pump of small diameter, to which the power is applied, the principle involved being the same as in the hydrostatic bellows. Also called {hydraulic press}, and {Bramah press}. In the illustration, a is a pump with a small plunger b, which forces the water into the cylinder c, thus driving upward the large plunder d, which performs the reduced work, such as compressing cotton bales, etc.