Compressibility of liquids and hydrostatic pressure

Abstract In this study, we first identify several misconceptions regarding the concept of hydrostatic pressure, as revealed through interviews with 27 secondary Physics teachers. These misconceptions are primarily linked to the assumption that liquids are incompressible. The objective of this research is to enhance teachers’ understanding by illustrating the limitations of the incompressible liquid model. As part of a three-hour instructional intervention designed for the interviewed teachers, we introduced the relationship between hydrostatic pressure, present at any point within a liquid, and the compression or deformation of the liquid’s molecules. The responses from the participating teachers suggest that this clarification effectively addressed the previously noted misunderstandings.