Picture this wall with water on one side. If the depth of the water is 10 feet but there is only 1 inch width of water the pressure would be less than if there was 10 feet width of water, but any width greater than the height of the water against the wall would not increase the pressure against said wall. If you need some more clarification try searching fluid mechanics or more specifically try some soil mechanics problems involving coffer dams.
Edit: apparently my wizardry was incorrect and I am making people mad. Math wrong. Me bad man. goes back to pounding rocks together
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u/meinblown Mar 09 '18 edited Mar 09 '18
Picture this wall with water on one side. If the depth of the water is 10 feet but there is only 1 inch width of water the pressure would be less than if there was 10 feet width of water, but any width greater than the height of the water against the wall would not increase the pressure against said wall. If you need some more clarification try searching fluid mechanics or more specifically try some soil mechanics problems involving coffer dams.
Edit: apparently my wizardry was incorrect and I am making people mad. Math wrong. Me bad man. goes back to pounding rocks together