PRESSURE

Pressure is force per unit area

Pressure = Force
Area
-2
Unit Nm / Pascal (Pa)
Pressure is directly proportional to force and inversely
proportional to area of contact

..............................................................
.................................................................

3. Diagram 11.2 shows four tankers P, Q, R and S, with

different specifications. You are required to determine
the most suitable tanker to deliver oil safely.
Tanker
P
Type
of
brake:
air

Example 1
A block of metal of dimensions 0.5 m x 0.6 m x 1.0 m has a
mass of 300 kg.

Q
Type
of
brake:
air

Calculate the
(i)
maximum pressure acting on the ground.

(ii)

R
Type
of
brake:
ABS

Minimum pressure acting on the ground

S
Type
of
brake:
ABS

Example 2
Diagram below shows a man standing still on reflexology
therapy stones. He exerts pressure on the reflexology therapy
stones.

Study the specifications of all the four tankers from

the following aspects:
- The type of brakes
- The number of tires
- The number and size of the tanks
- The distance between the trailer and the tractor.

(a) What is meant by pressure?

................................................[1 mark]
(b) The mass of the man is 50kg and the area of contact between
the man and the reflexology therapy stones is 40 cm2.
Calculate the pressure exerted by the man on the reflexology
therapy stones.

PRESSURE IN LIQUID
A liquid in a container exerts pressure because of its weight.
The pressure at any point in a liquid, at a particular depth,
acts equally in all directions.
The pressure in a liquid increases with depth.
The pressure in a liquid does not depend on the area of its
surface.
The pressure in a liquid is directly proportional to the density
of the liquid.
P= hg

Example 4
Diagram 7.1 shows a concrete water tank filled with water.

[2mark]
(c) Based on Diagram 2.1 state one way by which the man can
reduce the pain experience by his sole when walking
barefooted on the reflexology therapy stones
Explain your answer.
22

5. Diagram 11.2 shows a water supply system. Water from

a water storage tank is pumped to the water tank of a

house in a housing estate.

Diagram 7.1
(a) State a factor that affects the water pressure in the tank.
...................................................................................[1 mark]
Diagram 11.2
Table 11 shows the specifications of four water storage
tanks, P, Q, R and S, that can be used to store water in
a housing estate.

(b)(i) Compare the water pressure at P and Q

................................................................................[1 mark]
(ii) Calculate the water pressure at Q.(Density of water =
1000 kg m-3 )

[2 marks]
(c) Diagram 7.2 shows water flows from the concrete tank to the
house water tank.

Water
storage
tank
Material
used
Density

metal

concrete

concrete

metal

low

high

low

low

low

high

high

low

Shape

Height
from the
ground

Diagram 7.2
(i) What is the factor that causes the water to flow from the
concrete tank to the

Table 11
You are required to determine the most suitable water
storage tank. Study the specifications of all the four water
storage tanks based on the following aspects :
The material used
The density of the tank
The shape of the tank
The height of the tank from the ground
Explain the suitability of the aspects. [10 marks]

.................................................................................[1mark]
(ii) The flow of water from the concrete tank to the house
will stop at level P. Explain why the supply stops?
.........................................................................................
[2 mark]
(d) (i) Suggest two modifications that can be done to ensure the
water flow continuously to the house water tank.

Atmospheric pressure
According to kinetic molecular theory, gases consist of
molecules which are apart and in random motion at high speeds.
The gas molecules possess mass and experience the pull of
gravity. The result is that gases have weight.
The weight of the gas molecules will produce force and as a
result will exert pressure on you because pressure is force per
area ( P = F )
A
The pressure is called as at the atmospheric pressure

............................................................................................
.............................................................................[2 mark]
(ii) Draw a water tank that can withstand high water
pressure .

[1 mark]
23

Measuring atmospheric pressure

(i)The Simple Fortin barometer
The simple barometer Fortin is along glass tube that has been
filled with mercury and the inverted into a dish of mercury.
The mercury column rises or falls according to the pressure of
air on the mercury in the dish.
The space above the mercury column isa vacuum so it exerts no
pressure on the top of the mercury column.

Example 7
The figure shows a barometer. The vacuum space is filled with a
gas X.

What is the pressure of the gas X? [ Take atmospheric pressure

= 76 cm Hg ]
Measuring Gas Pressure
(i) Manometer
A manometer consists of a U-shaped glass tube filled with
liquid- normally liquid. Water is used in a manometer to
measure low gas pressure. One arm of the manometer is
exposed to the atmosphere whereas another arm is
connected to gas supply. There are three possible methods
to read the pressure of a gas by using the manometer
when the tap is opened.
(i)

If the vertical height of the mercury is h cm, thefore the

atmospheric pressure reading is h cm mercury .
How does the height ,h vary?
The height, h will remains uchanged when
(i) the diameter of the glass tube increases
(ii) the glass tube is tilted
(iii) the glass tube is lowered further into the dish
(iv) the glass tube is lifted up from the dish
(iv) the quantity of mercury in the dish is increased
The height, h will increases when the barometer is slowly
submerged in water.

Pgas = Patmosfera + h

The height, h will decreases when

(i) the vacuum space in the glass tube is filled with gas
(ii) the barometer is carried out to a mountain

(ii)

Example 6
The figure shows a mercury barometer is placed in a school
laboratory where the atmospheric pressure is 75 cm Hg.

Pgas = Patmosfera - h
(iii)
(a) What is the value of h
(b) What is the length of the vacuum space when the glass
tube is
(i) uplifted at height of 5 cm
(ii) lowered further into the dish at a depth of 4 cm
(c) If the density of mercury is 1.36 x 104 kgm-3 and the
density of water is 1 x 103 kgm-3, determine
(i) the atmospheric pressure in the units Pa
(ii) the value of h if the mercury is replaced by water.

Pgas = Patmosfera
Example 8
The figure shows a manometer containing mercury is connected
to a gas supply.

24

(a) What is pressure?

.. [1 mark]
(b) Explain how the hand suction cup is used to lift the
windshield glass.

Calculate the pressure of the gas supply in the units

(i) cm Hg
(ii) Pa
[Density of mercury = 1.36 x 104 kg m-3 and Atmospheric
pressure = 76 cm Hg ]

.[2 marks]
(c) The total area covered by the suction cups is 0.002 m2.
The pressure inside the suction cup is reduced to 45 000
Pa. The atmospheric pressure is 1 x 105 Pa.
(i) What is the difference between the pressure inside the
cups and the atmospheric pressure?

The another use of U-Tube

The U-tube can also be used to determine the densirty of a
liquid.

[1 mark]
(ii) Calculate the force acting on the windshield glass due to
the pressure difference in (c)(i).

Pressure P1 = Pressure P2
h11g = h22g
h11 = h22
Example 9
The figure shows a U-tube use to determine the density of a
liquid K. When liquid K is poured into one arm, the water level in
the other arm rises.

[2 marks]
(iii) What is the maximum mass of the windshield glass that
can be carried by this suction cup?
[1 mark]
11. Fig. 2.1 shows a manometer used to measure the pressure
difference between the air inside a plastic container and the
atmosphere outside. A pressure difference of 100 Pa causes
a one centimetre difference in water levels.

If the density of water is 1 000 kg m-3, determine the density of

liquid K.

10. Diagram 4 shows a hand suction cup being used to change a

windshield glass without cracking it. The suction cups are
pressed onto glass surface, the levers are squeezed and the
rubber pads clamp securely to the glass.
(a) Using Fig. 2.1, determine the pressure difference in Pa
shown by the manometer.
pressure difference = .............................Pa

[1]

(b) State what changes, if any, occur to the distance h in Fig. 2.1
if
(i) the manometer tube is narrower,
25

..[1]

wand

(ii) a liquid denser than water is used in the manometer.

hose

.[1]
(c) The pressure difference measured by the manometer is
caused by the force F. This force is the weight of a student
standing on the platform. The cross-sectional area of the
platform is 0.1m2.

Floor
nozzle

(i) State the formula that relates pressure, force and area.
(ii) Calculate the weight of the student.
weight = .........................................

13. You are required to give some suggestions to modify a

vacuum cleaner which can clean the dust faster, based on
the following aspect:
(i)
Material use for the body of the vacuum
cleaner
(ii)
Material use for the hose
(iii)
Size of the fan
(iv)
The size of the floor nozzle
(v)
The diameter of wand
[10 marks]

[3]

12. Fig. 3.1 shows a glass tube dipped into mercury. A vacuum
pump is connected to the top of the tube and switched on.
The mercury rises up the tube and stops.

(a) Three points on Fig. 3.1 are labelled P, Q and R.

State which two of these points are at atmospheric pressure.
............................................................................... [1]
(b) The density of mercury is 13 600 kg /m3 and the gravitational
field strength g is 10 N / kg. Calculate the pressure due to the
column of mercury of length 0.76 m.

[2]
(c) State and explain what happens if the mercury in the
apparatus shown in Fig. 3.1 is replaced with water.

... [2]
26

Pascals Principle
Pascals principle states that when pressure is applied to an
enclosed fluid, the pressure will be transmitted equally
throughout the whole enclosed fluid.

When the handle is pulled, valve P is still closed and valve Q

opens so the pressure can be sent to the larger piston. The large
piston will rise. While the small piston is pulled out, valve Q
closes and valve P opens so that the oil in the tank enter into
the hydraulic cylinder as a result of atmospheric pressure.
By moving the push-pull handle a number of times , the large
piston can be raised carrying a heavy load.

Input pressure = output pressure

F1 = F2
A1
A2
When incompressible fluid is moved through a hydraulic system,
the volume through which the input system moved must be the
same as the volume through which the output system,
Hence
A1d1 = A2d2

(2) Hidraulik Brake

Question 1
To produce a output force 2 500 N force over a 200 m2 area of a
hydraulic system, calculate the magnitude of the input force that
must be applied to a 50 m2 area.
A small force acting at the pedal can transmit a large force to all
wheels simultaneously to stop the car. It is because the
pressure will be transferred through the pedal brake liquid to
cars tyre .

Question 2
The figure shows a basic hydraulic system has small and large
pistons with cross-sectional area of 0.005 m2 and 0.1 m2
respectively. A force of 20 N is applied to the small piston.

1.

Figure 2.1 shows the structure of a hydraulic jack.

The crosssectional area of pistons, P and Q are
15cm2 and 500 cm2 respectively. A force of 150 N is
exerted on piston P.

Determine
(a) The input pressure
(b) The output pressure
(c) The weight of the load.
(d) The mass of the load
(e) If the small piston is pushed down at a depth a 0.04 m,
what is the distance moved by the large piston.

(a) Name the physics principle applied in the hydraulic

jack.

(1) Hidraulic Jack

............................................................................[1 mark]
(b) Compare the pressure at piston P and the pressure at
piston Q.
.........................................................................[1 mark]

27

(c) Calculate the weight of the load that can be lifted by

the piston Q.

(i)Piston size: .
Reason:
.
(ii)Size of seat:...

[2 marks]
(d) State the function of the release valve.

Reason:

..........................................................................[1 mark]

[4 marks]
3 Diagram 7.1 shows a simple hydraulic jack.

(e) State a reason why oil is used in the hydraulic jack.

...........................................................................[1 mark]
2) Diagram 7.1 shows a dentist chair for children. The
chair uses a hydraulic system.

Diagram 7.1
The surface area of the small piston is 20 cm2 and the
surface area of the bigger piston is 800 cm2.
(a) Name the principle which is involved in the operation
of this hydraulic system.
DIAGRAM 7.1

..........................................................[ 1 mark ]

(a) Name the physics principle used in a hydraulic system.

.
(1 mark)

(b) The handle L is then pulled backwards. State what

happens to valve A and valve B as L is pulled
backwards. Tick for the appropriate box.
Open
Close
Valve A

(b) Explain how the chair can be lifted up when the pedal
is pressed down?

Valve B

...

[ 2 marks ]

(2 marks)

(c) A force of 100 N is exerted on the small piston.

(i) Calculate the force produced at the bigger piston
[ 2 marks ]

(c) Why the system is less effective if air bubbles are

present in hydraulic fluid?
.. [1 mark]
(d) The cross sectional area of the big piston and the small
piston are 100 cm2 and 20 cm2 respectively. The mass
of the chair is 20 kg. Calculate the force exerted on the
small piston to lifted up the child of 30 kg.

(ii) When the small piston moves forward at the

distance of 60.0 cm, calculate the distance of the
bigger piston.
[ 2 marks ]

(d) State the advantage of using oil in the hydraulic jack

compared to the water.

[2 marks]
(e) Suggest the modifications required to the size of piston
and the size of the seat so that the chair is suitable and
safe for the use of adults. Give the reasons.
.

..........................................................[ 1 mark ]

28

(e) Suggest one modification at the bigger piston if it is

used to push the lorry upwards. Give your reason.

Explain the suitability of each characteristics of the

hydraulic brake system and determine the most
effective hydraulic brake to be used in a car brake
system. Give the reason for your choice. [10 marks]

.....................................................................[ 2 marks ]
4. An efficient hydraulic brake system is very important in
a car for safety purposes. Diagram 9.4 shows a car
hydraulic brake system.

Suggest and explain the modification should be done

on the system so that it can function effectively based
on the following aspect :
(i) The type material of brake fluid.
(ii) The characteristic of brake fluid.
(iii) The size of master piston
(iv) The size of slave piston.
(v) The type material of the fluid transmission pipe.
[10 marks]
5. Diagram 11.2 shows a hydraulic brake system in a car.

You are required to investigate the characteristics of a

hydraulic brake system as shown in Table 11
Hydrauli Type of brake Boiling Spring
Ratio of
c brake
fluid
point
constant crossof
of the section
brake
spring
area of
fluid
pistons
in
master
to the
brake
drum
cylinder
J
Incompressible Low
Low
1:1
K
Compressible
Low
High
5:1
L
Incompressible High
High
1:5
M
Compressible
High
Low
3:2
29

Bernoullis principle.
Bernoullis principle states that the pressure of a moving
fluid decreases as the speed of the fluid increases and vice
versa.

(ii)Give a reason for your answer in d(i).

...[1 mark]
(e)

Name the principle that causes the the observations

in Figure(b)
...[1 mark]

(f) Name one piece of apparatus in a school laboratory

which uses the principle in(e).
...[1 mark]
2 Diagram 5.1 shows the situation of a sheet of paper
before and when air is blown. Diagram 5.2 shows the
situation of the canopy before the lorry moves and when
the lorry moves at high speed.

Diagram 5.1

1) Figure(a) shows a piece of paper hanging from a retort

stand. When air flows from the nozzle of an air pump,
the paper changes its position as shown in Figure(b).

Diagarm 5.2
(a) What is meant by speed?
Figure(a)
Figure(b)
(a) Compare the position of paper in Figure(a) and
Figure(b)

...[1 mark]
(b) Based on Diagram 5.1 and Diagram 5.2:
(i) State two similarities for the situations in
Diagram 5.1 and Diagram 5.2.

...[1 mark]
(b)

F is a force that causes the paper to change its

position. In box, X, on Figure(b), indicate and label
the direction of F that acts on the paper.

....
..[2 marks]

(c) Explain how F is produced?

(ii) Compare the air pressure above and below the

paper when air is blown.

..

....[1 mark]

......[2 marks]

(iii) Relate the speed of the air to pressure of the air.

(d) (i) Compared to the position of the paper in Figure

(b), how does the position of the paper change
when the air flows faster?

...[1 mark]
(c) Name the principle involved in 5(b)(iii).

. ....[1 mark]
30

...[1 mark]

Size of the sail.

Supporting cable
Material use for the sail
Materials use masterframe and safety bar.

(d) Diagram 5.3 shows an instrument used to measure

the speed of air.

[10 marks]

5. Diagram below shows a sailboat.

Diagram 5.3
(e) In Diagram 5.3, the levels of coloured water in the
U-tube are same before air flows.
(i) Compare the speeds of air at P and at Q.

Your are required to gives some suggestions to

design a sailboat which can travel faster. Using the
knowledge on motion, force and the properties of
materials, explain the suggestions based on the
following aspects:
(i) the surface of the board
(ii) the shape of the board
(iii) material used for the board
(iv) material used for the sail
(v) the size of the sail
[10 marks]

......[1 mark]
(ii) Mark the water levels in the U-tube in Diagram
5.3 while air flows.
[1 mark]
3. You are requested to choose a suitable wing to be
installed with the body of the aircraft. By referring to
the information given in Table 11, explain the
suitability of each characteristic and suggest the
most suitable wing to be installed with the body of the
aircraft.
[10 marks]
Design

Shape of cross
section of wing

Area
of
wing/
m2

Density of
wing
material/
Kgm-3

Difference in
speed of air
above and below
the wing / m s-1

6. Diagram below show a perfume spray. The spray is not able to

produce a fine spray. You asked to modify the perfume spray so that
it can produce a fine spray.
Mid tube

40.0

2100

10.0

41.5

2300

0.0

nozzle
R

42.5

2000

0.0

38.2

2050

8.0

4.

You are required to give some suggestions to design a

hang glider for recreation. Using an appropriate physics
concept on motion, forces and the properties of materials,
explain your suggestions based on the following aspects

Your modification should base on the following aspects:

(i)
Characteristics of material of the bulb
marks]
31

[4

(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

Size of the bulb

marks]
Diameter of the mid tube
marks]
Size of the nozzle
marks]

[2
[2

4) The figure shows a balloon of mass 200 kg is floating

in a stationary position in the air.

[2

What is the upthrust of the balloon?

5) Figure(a), Figure(b) and Figure(c) show a spring
balance supporting a metal block K in three
situations.

Archimedes Principle
Archimedes Principle state that When an object is
immersed in a fluid (a liquid or a gas) ,the buoyant force
( upthrust ) on the object is equal in size to the weight of
fluid displaced by the object.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a) Compare the readings of the spring balance in

Figure(a) and Figure(b)
From Archimedess Principle :
Buoyant Force = Weight of fluid displace
= mg
(note : F = ma)
= Vg
(note : = m )
V
= Density of fluid
V
= Volume of fluid displaced or the
volume of the object that immersed in
the fluid.

(b) Name three forces that act on K when it

partially or totally in water.
..
(c) State and explain the relationship between
the forces in (b).

1) A metal block has a volume 0.002 m3 is immersed in

water. If the density of water is 1000 kgm-3, what is the
buoyant force experienced by the metal block?

(d) Name the principle involved in (c)

..
(e) (i) What will happen to the reading of the
spring balance in Figure (c) if the water is
replaced with salt solution?

2) A body has a weight of 20N in air and 15 N in a liquid.

If the volume is 5x 10- 4 m3 , what is the density of the
liquid?

..
(ii) Give one reason for your answer.

3) An object has a volume 5 x 10- 4 m3 is hung from a

spring balance. The reading of the spring balance is
8N.If the object is immersed fully in a liquid with a
density 600 kg m-3, determine the reading of the spring
balance now?

..
6 Diagram 5.1 and Diagram 5.2 show a spring balance
supporting a metal block in two situations. The metal
32

blocks are identical. The compression balance in

Diagram 5.1 and in Diagram 5.2 show the readings of
the weight of an empty beaker and the weight of a
beaker filled with water respectively. The beakers are
identical.

Diagram 3.1
A principle states that: When a body is immersed wholly
or partially in a fluid, the buoyant forces acting on the
body is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.
(a) (i) Name the principle above.
..............................................[1 mark]
(ii) Mark on Diagram 3.1 the direction of the two
forces acting on the hydrometer.
[1 mark]
(b) The hydrometer is removed from water, dried and then
placed in oil.
(i) Predict the length of the hydrometer that is
submerged in oil, compared to length in water
........................................... [1 mark]

a) What is the meaning of weight?

(ii) Give a reason for your answer in 3(b)(i).

(1mark)

.............................................................. [1 mark]

b) i) What is the difference between the spring balance

reading in Diagram 5.1 and diagram 5.2?

(c) The table below shows the characteristics of

hydrometer.
Hydromete Type of Diameter of
Diameter of
r
material capillary tube/cm bulb/cm
P
plastic
0.5
1.0
Q
plastic
2.0
3.0
R
glass
0.5
3.0
S
glass
2.0
1.0
You are required to choose a hydrometer that can be
used to measure densities of concentrated acids base on
the following aspects:
(i) Type of material:

(1mark)
ii) Name the force that is represented by the reading 5(b)
(i)
(1mark)
c) i) What is the difference between reading of the
compression balance in Diagram 5.2 and Diagram 5.1?
(1mark)

..(1mark)

ii) Name the physical quantity that is represented by the

reading in 5(c)(i)

Reason
(1mark)
..(1mark)
d) i) Relate the answers in 5(b)(ii) and 5(c)(ii)
(ii) Diameter of capillary tube:
(1mark)
..(1mark)
7 Diagram 3.1 shows a freely floating hydrometer in
water.

Reason
..(1mark)
33

(iv) Explain your answer in (a)(iii).

.
.................[1 mark]
.
(b) Diagram 7.3 shows a hot air balloon floating stationary
in the air.
[1 mark]
(i) State the relationship between the weight of air
balloon and the upthrust.

(iii) Diameter of bulb:

..(1mark)
Reason
..(1mark)

.............................................[1 mark]
(ii) What will happen to the air balloon if the load is
dropped?
.....................................................[1 mark]
Diagram 3.2
(d) Diagram 3.2 shows an object which has a weight of
0.25 N fully immersed in water. Its apparent weight is
0.22 N. [Density of water = 1000 kg m-3]
(i) What is the buoyant force on the object?

(iii) Explain your answer in (b) (ii).

......................................................
...................................................[2 marks]
9. The State Forestry Department is going to organize a
raft competition. As a team leader, you are required to
give some suggestions to design a raft which can
accommodate 15 participants and be able to move
quickly is water. Using your knowledge of motion,
forces and properties of materials, state and explain the
suggestions, based on the following aspects:
(i) The shape of the raft.
[2 marks]
(ii) The material used for the raft.
[2 marks]
(iii) The size of the raft. [2 marks]
(iv) The design of the raft.
[4 marks]

(ii) Determine the volume of the object.

8 (a) Diagram 7.1 show a boat made from steel floating at
the sea. The mass of the boat is 7500 kg.

(i) State one function of plimsoll line?

...........................................[1 mark]
.
(ii) What is the buoyant force acts on the boat.
.........................................[1 mark]
(iii) In the Diagram 7.2, mark the level of water when the
boat enter the river Mouth.
[1 mark]

Diagram 7.2
34