What unit is used to calculate the pressure exerted by a cubic foot of water?

The pressure exerted by a cubic foot of water is calculated in pounds per square foot (psf). This unit is derived from the weight of the water and the area over which that weight is distributed. One cubic foot of water weighs approximately 62.4 pounds. When this weight is applied over an area, it creates a pressure, and measuring that pressure in pounds per square foot provides a clear indication of how much weight is being exerted per unit of area.

In contrast, inches of water is a measurement typically used in specific applications such as HVAC systems, where small pressure differences are relevant. Kilopascals and bars are metric units of pressure, and while they could technically express the pressure in different contexts, pounds per square foot is the most common and appropriate unit for this scenario involving water pressure. Each of these alternative units serves its purpose in different fields but does not specifically relate to the direct calculation of pressure from the weight of a cubic foot of water as effectively as pounds per square foot does.