Absolute pressure is defined as the sum of which two pressures?

Absolute pressure is defined as the sum of atmospheric pressure and gauge pressure. This concept is important in various engineering applications because it helps ensure that pressure measurements reflect the total pressure acting on a system.

Gauge pressure measures the pressure relative to the ambient atmospheric pressure; this means it can read zero when the pressure of the system is equal to atmospheric pressure. Absolute pressure, on the other hand, takes into account the ambient pressure, which provides a clearer understanding of the actual pressure exerted. By adding atmospheric pressure to gauge pressure, you account for the entire pressure environment, which is crucial in situations where knowing the total pressure is necessary for calculations in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and other applications.

The other choices mix different types of pressures in a way that does not capture the true definition of absolute pressure. For instance, dynamic pressure and vacuum pressure are not relevant to the absolute pressure definition. Similarly, static pressure and fluid pressure, while related concepts, do not address how absolute pressure is articulated. Thus, understanding that absolute pressure encompasses both atmospheric pressure and gauge pressure is fundamental to accurate pressure measurement and analysis in engineering contexts.