This is because the direction of the force a liquid exerts on its container depends on the shape of the container (force is normal to the surface of the container) and the size of the container. Since...This is because the direction of the force a liquid exerts on its container depends on the shape of the container (force is normal to the surface of the container) and the size of the container. Since pressure as a function of depth in a liquid is ρliquidgy (where ρ is the density of liquid, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and y is the depth in the liquid), what is the pressure at the bottom of the block?
