Eli5: If water can’t be compressed under normal conditions, then how does water pressure work?

Question

Eli5: If water can’t be compressed under normal conditions, then how does water pressure work?

In: 18

Answer 1

There is a difference between compression and pressure. Some things compress with pressure–like a sponge when you squeeze it (compress it) with your hand. Other things (like a rock) not so much. Water is more like the rock–you can apply all sorts of pressure to it, and the volume won’t change.