A Practical Guide to Hydrostatics
A Practical Guide to Hydrostatics When in equilibrium, liquid applies power to its container or any other material it comes in contact with. There are two types of force, hydrostatic energies and external forces. When applied against a level surface, the liquid exercises equal force against all points of that surface. Liquid in equilibrium will apply vertical pressure at every point of an object’s exterior when that object is fully submersed in the liquid. This is also identified as buoyancy or the Archimedes’ principle. Liquid acted on by hydrostatic force is then subject to hydrostatic pressure at the point of contact. These ideas are applied to the containers used by plumbing, wells, and fountains.The Early Civilization: Outdoor Fountains
The Early Civilization: Outdoor Fountains Various kinds of conduits have been found through archaeological digs on the island of Crete, the birthplace of Minoan society. These were applied to furnish towns and cities with water as well as to minimize flooding and remove waste. Virtually all were prepared from terracotta or even stone.
The Genesis Of Outdoor Fountains

The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. Inhabitants of cities, townships and small towns used them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash up, which meant that fountains had to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Used until the 19th century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their source of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Fountains were not only used as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the designer who created it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often utilized by Romans to decorate their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners incorporated fountains to create smaller variations of the gardens of paradise. To show his dominance over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to extol their positions by adding decorative baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
Since indoor plumbing became the norm of the day for clean, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Modern fountains are used to adorn public spaces, honor individuals or events, and enhance recreational and entertainment events.