AIR PRESSURE

AIR PRESSURE
The Earth is surrounded by a thick layer or air called atmosphere. The air in the atmosphere presses on the surfaces of all objects. This is what we called air pressure. We do not feel the pressure because the bodys internal pressure is slightly more than this pressure.

The Kinetic Theory of Gas

Gases are made up of tiny and discrete particles. Air is mixture of gases, the particles in air move about randomly at high speed. The gas particles move freely in all directions. Upon hitting the walls of container, the particles exert a force on the walls. The force that acts on per unit area of the wall is air pressure. Kinetic energy of particles increases as its temperature increases.

Air Exerts Pressure

Air pressure varies from place to place. At high altitudes there is less air and less air pressure. In a closed container, the particles of air which collide with the walls of the container also exert pressure on the walls of the container.

Factors Affecting Air Pressure

The air pressure of a quantity of air in an enclosed container depends on the volume and temperature of the air. a) When the volume of the container increases, the space for air particles to move around increases. The particles collide less frequently with the walls of the container. Thus, the pressure in the container decreases.

 Factors temperature:b) When the temperature of the air in the container increases, air particles move faster. As a result, air particles collide more frequently with the walls of the container. Thus, the pressure in the container increases.

WAYS TO SHOW THE EXISTENCE OF AIR PRESSURE

Crushing Can - Insert boil water in a can will push the air out. Close the can and pour cold water. - The can will crushed inwards. - The steam in the can condenses and causes low pressure inside the can. The air pressure outside is greater and presses the can inwards.

 Separating two suckers - Two similar rubber suckers are pushed together to force out the air trapped inside the suckers. - It will be difficult to pull the two suckers apart because the air pressure inside is pressing on the suckers with great force.

Application
Syringe Rubber hook Bicycle pump Plunger Pippete Drinking straw Siphon Spray pump

Drinking Straw
The technique involves three steps:a) When you suck on the straw, air inside the straw is sucked into your mouth. b) The air pressure inside the drinking straw drops. c) The higher external air pressure then pushes water into the straw and into the mouth.

Syringe
a) b) c) d) How syringe used to draw up water from a basin. As the piston pulled up: The volume of air inside the syringe increases. The air pressure drops. The air pressure inside the syringe is less than the air pressure outside. The higher atmospheric pressure pushes the water into the syringe.

Spraying Pump
a) How a spraying pump works? When the spraying pump is pushed hard into the cylinder, air is forced out at great speed through the nozzle. The air in front of the nozzle is blown away and a region of low air pressure is created. The higher air pressure inside the container pushes the liquid pesticide out through a long, narrow metal tube. The liquid pesticide that emerges from the metal tube is hit by a steam of fast moving air and is broken up into a fine spray.

b) c)

d)

Using the principle in solving daily problems

Clearing blockages in sinks - When the pump is pressed down, the air beneath it is forced out. A region of low air pressure is created. - The high air pressure outside the pump presses the rubber cup tightly to the surface of the sink. - By pulling up the pump, the high air pressure inside the pipe is able to force out the blockage.

 Pouring condensed milk from a can - Condensed milk hardly flows out through a hole punched into the can. - The air pressure outside is higher than the air pressure inside the can. This will stop the milk from flowing out. - Making a second hole in the can will allow milk to flow out faster. - Air flows into the can through this second hole to equalise the internal and external air pressure.