The location of centre of pressure, which defines the point of application of the total pressure force on the surface, can be calculated by applying the principle of moments according to which "sum of the moment of the resultant force about an axis is equal to the sum of the components about the same axis". The centre of pressure of a rectangular surface (of width 'w') immersed vertically in a static mass of fluid is at a depth of(where, y = depth of the liquid)