APPLYING PASCAL'S PRINCIPLE

1. Pascal's principle states that in a confined fluid, an externally applied pressure is

transmitted uniformly in all directions.
2. Also known as the principle of transmission of pressure in a liquid.

1. When the plunger is pushed in, the water squirts equally from all the holes.
2. This shows that the pressure applied to the plunger has been transmitted
uniformly throughout the water.

BASIC HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

1. A hydraulic system applies Pascal's principle in its working mechanism. It can be

used as a force multiplier.
2. In this hydraulic system, a small force, Fl is applied to the small piston X results in
a large force, F2 at the large piston Y. The pressure, due to the force, F 1, is
transmitted by the liquid to the large piston. The transmitted pressure is constant.
3. The hydraulic system must not contain any air bubbles as these will reduce the
efficiency of the system because part of the applied force will be used to
compress the air bubbles.
4. According to Pascals principle, F1A1=F2A2

HYDRAULIC JACK

1) When the lever is pushed downwards, valve A closes while valve B opens.
2) Pressure is transferred to the larger cylinder and creates a large force to lift the car.
3) When the lever is pulled upwards, valve B closes while valve A opens. The
hydraulic oil flows out from the tank to fill the space in the small cylinder.
4) As every movement downwards by the lever creates a small movement upwards for
the large piston, the lever needs to be pushed and pulled repeatedly before the car
can be raised to a certain height required.
5) The car can be lowered down by opening the release valve so that the hydraulic oil
can flow back into the tank.

HYDRAULIC BRAKE

1) When the driver steps on the brake pedal, the piston in the main cylinder transfers
pressure through the hydraulic oil in the cylinders.
2) Pressure is transferred uniformly through the hydraulic oil.
3) The pistons in the slave cylinders are larger, therefore a large amount of force is
transferred to the brake pads.
4) The brake pads transfer the large amount of force onto the disc so that the rotation of
the tire is slowed down.

APPLYING ARCHIMEDES' PRINCIPLE

- Archimedes principle dictates that when an object is partially or fully immersed in a

fluid, the object undergoes a buoyant force which is equal to the weight of the fluid
displaced.
Buoyant force = Weight of fluid displaced.
= Vpg
where V = volume of fluid displaced [m3]
= density of fluid [kg m-3]
g = gravitational acceleration [m s-2]
If the object is floating stationary,
Weight of object = Weight of fluid displaced.

> PRINCIPLE OF FLOATATION

- The Archimedes' principle states that any object, wholly or partially immersed in a
fluid, experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by it.
Note that, for an object that is completely submerged in a fluid, the volume of the fluid
displaced by it, is equal to its own volume. On the other hand, for an object that is
floating on the surface of the fluid, the weight of the displaced fluid is equal to the weight
of the body. The upward force experienced by the body is termed as the buoyant force.
Thus,
Buoyant force = weight of the fluid displaced by the body
Now, the weight of the fluid displaced by the body is directly proportional to the volume
of the displaced fluid, since the density of the fluid is constant. This can be illustrated by
the following equations.
Weight = Mass x g (where g is the acceleration due to gravity and is a constant)
and
Mass = Density x Volume
Thus, we can say
Weight = Density x Volume x g
Let us take a small example. Suppose an iron ball weighs 20 kg. When a string is tied to
the ball and it is submerged in water, the weight of water displaced by the ball is, say, 7
kg. Therefore, the ball would experience an upward force equal to 7 kg. This means that
the net downward force experienced by the string would be equal to 13 kg (20 - 7 = 13).
Thus, it can be concluded that the weight of the ball decreases when it is immersed in
water. This reduced weight is termed as the apparent weight. Hence, the Archimedes'
principle can be restated as follows.

Reduced weight of the body in water (Apparent weight) = Weight of the body - weight of
the fluid displaced

F,

W
,

1. F > W : Object will rise up in fluid.

2. F < W : Object will sink in fluid.
3. F = W : Object neither sink nor rises in fluid.

* Density =

Mass
Volume

SUBMARINE

Emergence:
1. Compressor supplies compressed air into ballast tanks to displace water.
2. Water is flushed from ballast tanks.
3. - Upthrust = weight of water displaced by air
- Upthrust increases when more water is displaced.
4. When upthrust greater than weight submarine, submarine rises.

Submergence:
1. Compressor is turned off and air get out from ballast tanks.
2. Low pressure in ballast tanks causes water to rush into ballast tanks.
3. - Volume of air decreases, upthrust decreases.
- Density and weight of submarine increases.
4. When upthrust is less than the weight of submarine, submarine submerges.

HOT AIR BALLOON

1. Hot air in the balloon has lower density than the surrounding air.
2. As a result, when the buoyant force produced is higher than the weight of the
balloon, the balloon will start rising up.
3. The altitude of the balloon can be controlled by varying the temperature of the air
in the balloon.

UNDERSTANDING BENOULLI'S PRINCIPLE

> Bernoulli's Principle states that as the speed of a moving fluid (liquid or gas)
increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases.

Venturi Effect
> The Venturi effect is the fluid pressure that results when an incompressible fluid flows
through a constricted section of a pipe.

Experiment 1

Figure above shows that when water flow from left to right, the water level decreases
from left to right. This indicates that, the water pressure decreases from left to right.
Explanation:
Liquids flow from places with higher pressure to places with lower pressure.

However, if the experiment is repeated by using a Venturi tube where the diameter at B
is made smaller than A and C as in the diagram above, the water level become lowest
at B.

Explanation:
The pressure at B is the lowest because the liquid flow the fastest at B. According to
Bernoulli's Principle, the faster the water flow, the lower the water pressure.
Experiment 2

Figure above shows some air is blow through a tube from left to right. The water level in
the capillary tube increases from left to right.
This indicates that the pressure in the tube decreases from left to right.
Explanation:
Gases flow from places with higher pressure to places with lower pressure.

However, if the tube is replaced by a Venturi tube, the water level become highest at B.
This indicates that, the pressure of the air is the lowest at B.
Explanation:

The pressure at B is the lowest because the gas flow the fastest at B. According to
Bernoulli's Principle, the faster the gas flow, the lower the gas pressure.

Aeroplane

1. When a wing in the form of an aerofoil moves in air, the flow of air over the top
travels faster and creates a region of low pressure. The flow of air below the wing
is slower resulting in a region of higher pressure.
2. The difference between the pressures at the top and underside of the wing
causes a net upward force, called lift, which helps the plane to take-off.
Q: Explain how an upthrust is produced when the aeroplane is moving.
1. When the aeroplane is moving, air flows faster above the wing than below.
2. Therefore, the air pressure below the wing is higher than above.
3. The difference in air pressure produces a net force acting upwards.
Q: There are slat in front and flaps at the back of the wings of an aeroplane. Describe
with the aid of a diagram how the slat and flaps of the wings help in lifting the aeroplane

when the aeroplane starts to depart.

1. When the aeroplane starts to depart, the slat and flaps are stretched and spread
out to increase the surface area of the wings.
2. This increases the lifting force acting on the aeroplane.

Insecticide Spray

1. When the plunger is pushed in, the air flows at a high velocity through a nozzle.
2. The flow of air at high velocity creates a region of low pressure above the metal
tube. The higher pressure of the atmospheric air acts on the surface of the liquid
insecticide causing it to rise up the metal tube.
3. The insecticide leaves the top of the metal tube through the nozzle as a fine
spray.
Bunsen Burner

1. When the burner is connected to a gas supply, the gas flows at high velocity
through a narrow passage in the burner, creating a region of low pressure.
2. The outside air, which is at atmospheric pressure, is drawn in and mixes with the
gas.
3. The mixture of gas and air enables the gas to burn completely to produce a
clean, hot, and smokeless flame.
Carburetor

A carburetor is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine.
Figure above shows how Bernoulli's principle is applied in a carburetor to mix the air
with the fuel.

Q: Explain why 2 fast moving boats tend to move closer to each other.
1. When the two boats travel at high speed, the stream of fluid (air and water)
between the boats flow faster than the other sides of the boats.
2. This form a low pressure zone in between the boats.
3. The higher pressure at the other sides of the boat pushes the boats closer to

each other.