How many feet of water are equivalent to 1 lb per square inch?

To understand why the conversion of 1 pound per square inch (psi) is equivalent to approximately 2.307 feet of water, it’s essential to consider the relationship between pressure, water density, and height.

Hydraulic pressure can be quantified using the formula:

[ \text{Pressure (psi)} = \text{Height (feet)} \times \text{Density of water (lbs/ft}^3\text{)} \times \text{Gravity (ft/sec}^2\text{)} ]

For water, its density is typically around 62.4 pounds per cubic foot (lbs/ft³) at standard temperature. The acceleration due to gravity used in most calculations is approximately 32.2 feet per second squared (ft/s²).

To find how many feet of water exert a pressure of 1 psi, you can rearrange the formula to solve for height:

[ \text{Height} = \frac{\text{Pressure}}{\text{Density} \times \text{Gravity}} ]

Using 1 psi, the density of water, and the constant for gravity, the calculation becomes:

[ \text{Height} = \frac{1 \text{ psi} \times 144