Final answer:
Static pressure acts perpendicular to any surface it contacts, which effectively means it is directed parallel to all directions around a point within the fluid.
Step-by-step explanation:
Static pressure in fluids, such as air or water, acts perpendicular to any surface it contacts. This is because fluids are not able to withstand or exert shearing (sideways) forces, making the direction of the static pressure's force always normal (perpendicular) to surfaces. For instance, in the case of a tire filled with air, the static pressure inside the tire exerts forces that are perpendicular to all parts of the tire's inner surfaces. Similarly, swimmers in water experience pressure on all sides since the water would move into the space they occupy if they were not there, and again, these forces are exerted perpendicular to the swimmer's body.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is c) Parallel to all directions, as this is effectively saying the static pressure acts in a direction perpendicular to various surfaces around it, which translates to all directions relative to a point within the fluid.