CHAPTER 3 : FORCES AND PRESSURE

3.1 UNDERSTANDING PRESSURE

1. DEFINITION : _________________________________________________
2.

FORMULA :

3. SI UNIT :

FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE PRESSURE ACTING ON A

SURFACE

APPLICATION OF
PRESSURE IN
EVERYDAY IN LIFE

EXAMPLE 3.1

EXAMPLE 3.2

A block of metal of dimensions 0.5

m x 0.6 m x 1.0 m has a mass of
300 kg. Calculate the maximum
pressure acting on the ground.

The diagram below shows a

wooden block of dimension 8 cm x
10 cm x 12 cm. Its weight is 120 N.
On which side should the wooden
block be placed to produce a
maximum pressure exerted on the
table. What is the value of this
pressure ?

Exercise 1
1. A table of mass 50 kg has four legs is placed on a floor. Each leg has
a cross setional are of 25 cm2. Find the pressure exerted on the floor
( g = 10 ms-2 ) Ans: 50 kPa

2. Wind blows normally on a wall at a pressure of 200 kPa. If then wall

has an area of 5 m2, what is the force acting on the wall? Ans: 1000 kN

3. A cylinder has a mass of 12 kg and a cross-sectional area of 200 cm 2

. what is the pressure acting at its base ? Ans: 6 kPa

3.2 UNDERSTANDING PRESSURE IN LIQUIDS

Definition pressure in liquid : ______________________________________

EXAMPLE 3.3

1. An air bubble is at a depth of 5 m below the surface of a lake. What

is the pressure of water on the bubble if the density of the water is
1000 kg m-3 ? Ans: 50000 Pa

2. The figure shows a high tin with a length of 100 cm is filled to the full
with water.

If the pressure caused by the water at point P is 8000 Pa, what is the
value of L ?
( Density of water = 1000 kg m-3 ) Ans: 20 cm

3. The density of water is 1000 kg m-3

Find the density of liquid X in kg m-3?

Exercise 2

1. Mercury has density of 13600 kg m-3. If the pressure of mercury is

650 kPa, what is the depth of its surface ?

2. Water has a density equal to 1 g cm-3. What is its pressure at depth

of 12 m from surface.

3. A ballon is situated at 10 m below sea level, what is the total

pressure experianced
by the ballon ? [ the density of sea water is
-3
1100 kg m ]
Total pressure , P = Atmospheric pressure + Liquid pressure

Intravenous infusin Location of water tank

Application of pressure in liquids

Construction of dam
Construction of submarine

3.3 UNDERSTANDING GAS PRESSURE AND ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

Gas Pressure
1. The gas pressure in container is caused by the ___________ of gas
molecules with __________ of the container.
2. Gas pressure can be measure by using two types of instrument
known as;
a) ___________ gauge ( consist of semi-circular or C shaped
copper tube )
b) ______________ ( consist of a U tube abaut 1 m in height )

Atmospheric Pressure
1. The atmospheric pressure is caused by ____________ exerted by the
air, as the weight of the atmosphere on the Earths surface.
2. 1 atmosphere = _________mm Hg = __________ m water =
_____________ Pa
Altitude and magnitude of Atmospheric Pressure
The greater the __________ from the sea level , the ___________ will the
atmospheric
pressure.

Instrument for Measuring Atmospheric Pressure

Barometer is an instrument to measure atmospheric pressure. There
are 2 types of barometer;
a) _______________________
b) ________________________

EXAMPLE 3.4

1. The atmospheric pressure is 760 mm Hg. What is the value of the

atmospheric pressure in Pascal? [ Density of mercury , (Hg) = 13
600 kg m-3 ]
Atmospheric pressure , Patm = h p g = _________

2. Figure show apparatus set up which is used to measure atmospheric

pressure.

Calculate the pessure at point Q in Pa unit. [Mercury density = 1.36

x 10 kgm-3]
4

3.

Figure show manometer connected to gas tank whose valve is

then turned on. What is the pressure of the gas , in unit N m -2 , in
tank.
[ Density of water = 1 000 kg m -3 ]

Exercise 3
1. If the atmospheric pressure is 76 cm Hg, what is thepressure of
the trapped air P ?

2. What is the pressure of the gas trapped inside the J-tube, in Pa

unit?

3. Diagram below shows a set up of apparatus for measuring

atmopheric pressure.

Determine the atmospheric pressure in i) cm Hg ii) Pa unit.

3.4 APPLYING PASCALS PRINCIPLE

1. Definition : Pascals Principle state that the pressure exerted on an
__________ fluid is transmitted _________________to every part
of the fluid.

2. Draw the direction of water:

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.
1. In the hydraulic system is used to produce a ______ force out of a small
one. The hydraulic system also known as a force ___________ .
2. The application of Pascals principle can be found in
_____________________ & ________________________

EXAMPLE 3.5
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.
Determine;
i) the pressure
transmitted in the
hydraulic fluid.
ii) the mass of the load
iii) if the small piston is
pushed down at a
depth of 0.04 m, what
is the distance moved

Exercise 4
1.

2. Figure below shows a hydraulic jack. Piston A and piston B have crosssectional area 5 cm2 and 100 cm2 respectively. If mass of 3 kg is placed
on a piston A, what is the maximum weight that can be lifted by piston
B?

3.

3.5 ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE

1. Definition : Archimedes Principle said that when an object is _________
or __________ immersed in a fluid, the uptrust or ___________ on
it is equal to the ____________ of fluid displaced.
2. Buoyant force makes things seem to be __________
3. Bouyant force is the __________ force resulting from an object being
wholly or partially immersed in a fluid.
4. The weight of an object in the air is its _______ weight.
5. The weight measured when the objeect is immersed in a fluid is its
__________ weight.
6. The apparent weight loss of the object is due to ____________
7. When in water, the object experiances two forces ;
1. The ______________ which acts downwards
2. The ______________ which acts upwards.

8. The buoyant force is equal to the apparent loss in weight.

Buoyant force = actual weight apparent weight
= 25 15 = 10 N
9. The object displaces a volume of water. The ___________ the volume of
the object immersed, the _________ the volume of liquid displaced.
Volume of liquid displaced = volume of the
submerged object
Buoyant force = weight object in air
weight in water
Buoyant force = weight of fluid displaced
Buoyant force = pVg

EXAMPLE 3.6

EXAMPLE 3.7
An object of density 40 g cm-3 and
mass 500 g is immersed in a liquid
of density 2 g cm-3. Calculate ;
a) the volume of liquid displaced

b) the mass of liquid displaced

c) the buoyant force experianced by

the object ( g = 10 ms-1)

3.6 BERNOULLIS PRINCIPLE

APPLICATIONS OF ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE

1. Bernoullis principle states

that ..............................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................

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

APPLICATIONS OF
BERNOULLIS
PRINCIPLE