Hydrostatic equilibrium

In fluid mechanics, hydrostatic equilibrium or hydrostatic balance (also known as hydrostasy) is the condition of a fluid or plastic solid at rest. This occurs when external forces such as gravity are balanced by a pressure-gradient force. For instance, the pressure-gradient force prevents gravity from collapsing Earth's atmosphere into a thin, dense shell, whereas gravity prevents the pressure gradient force from diffusing the atmosphere into space.

Hydrostatic equilibrium

In fluid mechanics, hydrostatic equilibrium or hydrostatic balance (also known as hydrostasy) is the condition of a fluid or plastic solid at rest. This occurs when external forces such as gravity are balanced by a pressure-gradient force. For instance, the pressure-gradient force prevents gravity from collapsing Earth's atmosphere into a thin, dense shell, whereas gravity prevents the pressure gradient force from diffusing the atmosphere into space.