Pressure at a depth h exerted by a static liquid of density ρ on the walls of the container is given by ρgh. That is, it increases with depth. This pressure, as is the general opinion, is because of collisions of fluid particles, that are in thermal agitation, with the wall of the container.
However, if this is true, then since pressure increases with depth, so should the magnitude of thermal agitation of of the particles ( is there any other reason to account for the increase in pressure?). Therefore the temperature, a measure of thermal agitation, should also increase with depth. But, this is not observed anywhere.
My opinion is that the pressure exerted by a liquid on the walls of the container is due to the fact that the system of fluid particles is being sheared to the sides, against the wall of container by the forces of gravity (much like grains of sand filled in a tumbler) and not completely due to thermal agitation of particles. The walls of the container are resisting the fluid particles from being displaced and causing the whole system to lose shape. Hence, there is force and thus pressure on the wall. Is this view justified?
If my view is justified then what fraction of total pressure on the wall is contributed by the thermal agitation of particles (since it may not be possible to completely deny that there are some forces on the wall due to thermal agitation) ?
Someone might argue that the horizontal pressure on the walls cannot be due to vertical forces of gravity that have no horizontal component. But I guess a liquid not confined in a vessel (i.e, if the wall were to suddenly disappear) is much like a heap of small particles (as in grains of sand) being squeezed out of shape, due to lack of high order (seen in lattice structures), under the forces of gravity and the normal force provided by the surface on which the heap rests.
Please forgive me for the verbose description. I just wanted to make my point clear.
PS 1 : I came across a question with an answer relevant to mine here:
Pressure in fluids, in particular horizontal pressure
This part of answer by @bright magnus does address the issue:
Going back to your first question to sum up. Horizontal pressure in liquid results from two factors – the kinetic energy of molecules (which makes them move chaotically in all directions) and the Earth's gravity (as molecules are pulled down by gravity and look for escape sideways).
But the fraction of contribution of the two factors is not discussed. Also, if there are indeed two factors that contribute to horizontal pressure as mentioned, then why is it that the derivation of expression of pressure at a depth h in a static liquid does not seem to take into account the "kinetic energy factor"?
PS 2: As I pointed out in a comment to @FGSUZ's answer, I am aware that that the layers of liquid are in thermal contact and therefore in thermal equilibrium (which someone might think is the reason there is no variation in temperature).
However if the thermal agitation model is applied then since the whole system is at the same temperature, there should be equal pressure everywhere which is not the case. Hence, I just want to know how valid is this thermal agitation model as opposed to the model I proposed?
Best Answer
According to Pascal's law, the pressure affects all directions, so I wouldn't make any distinction between horizontal and vertical pressure. The change (in hydrostatics) is only given by your $\rho gh $ formula.
Okay, more pressure should imply more temperature, but this temeprature change is completely negligible for most practical cases. Just take a book and press it against two other books (all of them at the same temperature). Then measure temperature again. You won't find any significant change, for sure.
That's because you're producing a very macroscopic force that creates a small elastic deformation. Once you stop making the force, the material liberates and gets to the same original shape. This is barely trasnferred to kinetic energy of the single molecules. You would have to somehow excite normal modes of vibration if you want to heat up the material. That's how a microwave works.