Pascal’s Principal

Idea of Pascal’s Principal

a) Liquid cannot be compressed. So when pressure is applied on liquid, it will be distributed throughout the liquid
in all direction.
b) This situation can be observed via glass barrel:

Water will squirts out of the glass barrel with equal force in all direction

c) Pascal’s principal states that

 When pressure is applied to an enclosed fluid, the pressure will be transmitted equally throughout the whole
enclosed fluid.

Application of Pascal’s Principal

Hydraulic jack

 A hydraulic jack can produce a large force by applying a small force

 When the handle is pulled, the smaller piston will be pushed inward.
 The pressure causes valve A to remain close but, valve B opens.
 Force created by the pressure pushes the large piston upwards.

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  When the handle released, the small piston is pulled out,
 This causes the liquid to flow down
 Valve B close and valve A opens
 When valve A opens, liquid from the reservoir will 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 to the desired height
carrying a heavy weight.
 To lower the large piston, open the release valve so that the liquid gets to flow back to the reservoir.

Hydraulic brake
1. Two types of brakes are used in a car, namely,
a) Disc brake on the front tyre.
b) Drum brake on the rear tyre.

 When the brake pedal is pressed, pressure will be transferred through the pedal brake liquid to the car's tyres
 In a drum brake, the pressure transferred cause the brake drum to be pressed by the brake pedal.
 The brake shoe which is attached to the brake drum slows down the car
 In a disk brake, the pressure transferred cause the pistons to the wheel disc and slows down the car.

Test Power 12
The diagram below shows a simple hydraulic jack. What is the value of F2 if F1 is 10 N. Find the maximum load (in kg)
that can be lifted by F1.

[100kg]

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Test Power 13

The diagram above shows a hydraulic jack whereby a car of weight 12 000 N is placed on top of the larger piston. The
cross-sectional area of the smaller piston and the larger piston are 0.2 m 2 and 4 m2 respectively.

a) What is the minimum force applied to the smaller piston in order to lift the car? [ 600 N ]
-2
b) What is the transmitted pressure? [3 000 Nm ]

Test Power 14

Valve

Valve

The diagram above shows a simple hydraulic jack. The area of valve A is 2 cm 2 while the area of valve B is 50cm2 .
[ g = 10N kg1 ]

a) What is the pressure in N cm2 on valve A when 4.0 kg mass is put on top of it. [ 20 Ncm 2 ]
b) What is the pressure experienced by valve B [ 20 Ncm2 ]
c) Find the weight that can be supported by valve B with this pressure [ 1000 N ]

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Test Power 15

The diagram above shows one end of the pipe has bigger diameter than the other end. The pipe is filled with oil and
two valves are fixed to it as shown in the diagram. If valve A been pushed inside with a force of 100 N, find

a) what is the pressure experienced by the oil [ 6.67 N cm2 ]

b) what is the force that acts on valve B [ 13. 34 N ]

Test Power 16

Diagram shows two syringes are connected with a small tube and filled with oil. If a force of 15 N is applied on the
bigger valve, what is the force that pushes the smaller valve outward. [ 1.5 N ]

Test Power 17
The diagram below shows a simple hydraulic system.

a) What is the pressure created by valve A, if a force of 40 Valve B

Valve A
N acts on it?
b) Find the mass that can be carried by valve B
c) If valve A moves down about 1.5 cm, what will be the Area =
0.08cm2 Area
distance moved by valve B =1.2cm2

d) If the object Q is replaced with an object of 210 kg, what

is the force need to be applied on valve A to hold the new
object in its position. [ 500 N cm2; 60 kg; 0.1 cm; 140 N ]

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Test Power 18
In a hydraulic system, the large piston has a cross sectional area of 200 cm 2 and the small piston has a cross sectional
area of 5 cm2. If a force of 250 N is applied to the small piston, what is

a) The pressure exerted on the small piston

b) The force produced on the large piston

Test Power 19
A hydraulic lift is to be used to lift a truck masses 5000 kg. If the diameter of the small piston and large piston of the lift
is 5cm and 1 m respectively,

a) What gauge pressure in Pa must be applied to the oil?

b) What is the magnitude of the force required on the small piston to lift the truck. [400N; 0.1 m]

Archimedes’ Principle
1. A body immersed in a fluid ( totally or partially ) experiences an up-thrust (i.e. an apparent loss of weight )
which is equal to the weight of fluid displaced.

2. If the value of the up-thrust is greater than the

weight,
 the object will float

3. If the value of the up-thrust is equal to the weight,

 The object will float
 The displaced volume  the volume of the object
but equal to the volume that immerse in water.
4. If the value of the up-thrust is smaller than the weight,
 The object will sink.
 The displaced volume = the volume of the object

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Test Power 20

Density of water = 1000 kg m –3

Weight in the air =

Weight in water =

Weight lost =

Up-thrust force =

Weight of water displaced =

Volume of water displace =

Application of Archimedes’ Principle

Submarine
1. The magnitude of the buoyant force acting on a submarine
will determine whether the submarine will
a) float on sea surface,
b) stay stationary in the sea or
c) sink into the sea
2. The buoyant force depends on the weight of sea water
displaced.
3. As more water enters the submarine, its weight increases.
If its weight is more than the buoyant force, the submarine will sink.
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Plimsoll Symbol

1. A ship that travel around the world will experience different buoyant forces at different places because the
density of sea water changes according to the location of the ship.
2. To overcome the problem of overloading a ship in a specific region, Plimsoll symbol is drawn on the ship to
ensure the ship does not overload.
3. Among the symbols used are:
TF : Tropical fresh water level

F : Fresh water level in England

T : Tropical sea water level

S : Sea water level during summer in England

W : Sea water level during winter in England

Hydrometer

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 1. Hydrometer is used to measure the relative density of a liquid.
2. In a hydrometer lead shots placed at its base so that the hydrometer can float erect in liquid.
3. The thin rod gives the density readings, such as battery acid or milk or latex density
4. Hydrometer will float higher in a dense liquid while it will sink in a less dense liquid.

Test Power 21
Determine

a) What is the weight lost?

b) What is the up-thrust force that acts on the object
c) What is the volume of water that has been displaced
d) What is the weight of water displaced?
e) Does the up-thrust force is equal to the weight of water displaced?

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Test Power 22

Given the density of water is 1 g cm3 . Determine

a) What is the mass of the water displaced?

b) What is the up-thrust force on the object?
c) What is the mass of the object in water?
d) Mass of the object in the air?
e) What is the density of the object?

Test Power 23

Determine

a) What is the mass of the metal?

b) What is the weight lost?
c) What is the up-thrust force that acts on the object?
d) What is the weight of water displaced?
e) What is the volume of the object?
f) Does the up-thrust is equal to the weight of water displaced?

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Test Power 24

A balloon hold by Samad has 2.5 m3 of air trapped inside. Weight of the balloon is 15.0N. The density of the air =
1.3kg m3.

a) What is the weight of the air displaced by the balloon.

b) What will be the force applied to hold the balloon to be stationary.

Test Power 25

The volume of the metal is 0.2 m 3, hanged inside a tank as shown in the diagram above. What is the tension on the
string?

Given the density of the metal = 9 103 kg m3 the density of water =1  103 kgm3,g =10 Nkg1

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Test Power 26

An empty boat is weigh 2000N is floating.

[ density of water = 1  103 kg m3 , g = 10 N kg1 ]

a) What is the up-thrust force acts on the boat?

b) What is the mass of the water displaced?
c) If the safe volume is 1.5 m 3, determine the maximum mass that can be carried by the boat.

Test Power 27

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The test tube has cross sectional area of 1.0 cm and weigh 10 g contain some sand in it. The test tube together with
its sand is immersed into a beaker contain water. Given the density of water is 1.0 g cm 3 .

a) Determine the depth of the test tube immersed inside the water?
b) Calculate the volume of water displaced and the weight of the water displaced.
c) Calculate the mass of the sand

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Bernoulli Principle
Pressure in Moving Fluid
1. If fluid [liquid / gas] moves, the pressure within them will vary according to the speed of the fluids.
2. The relationship between the speed of a fluid and its pressure is given by Bernoulli's Principle.
3. Bernoulli's Principle states that in a moving fluid,
 The higher the velocity of fluid, the lower the pressure is
 The lower is the speed, the higher the pressure will be.

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Daily Activities based on Bernoulli Principle
ACTIVITY 1

1. When a piece of paper placed in front of the mouth is blown horizontally it is observed that the paper is lifted upwards.

2. The upper region of the paper has higher air velocity than its lower region.

3. The pressure at the lower region of the paper is higher than that of the upper region.

4. Thus, the paper is lifted upwards due to the difference in the pressure.

ACTIVITY 2

1. When air is blown forcefully into a filter funnel, a ping -pong ball placed beneath it does not fall
down

2. The velocity of air at Y is higher than that at X due to the narrower air passage.

3. Hence, the air pressure at Y is lower than the air pressure at X.

4. The difference in air pressure is able to support the ping - pong ball to prevent it from falling down.

ACTIVITY 3

1. When air is blown between two polystyrene spheres, the two polystyrene
spheres are attracted towards each other.
2. This is due to the fact that the position X between the two polystyrene spheres
has higher air velocity but lower air pressure.
3. The surrounding area has lower air velocity but higher pressure.
4. The difference in pressure forces the two polystyrene spheres to move inward.

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Application of Bernoulli’s Principle
Aerofoil

1. The upper side of an aerofoil is more curved than the down portion.
2. This causes the upper region of the aerofoil to have higher air velocity than the lower region of the aerofoil.
3. Based on Bernoulli's principle, the lower region has a higher pressure than the upper region of the aerofoil.
4. This causes a lifting force on the aerofoil.

Bunsen Burner

1. When gas flows out from the narrow jet at X at a high speed, its pressure is low.

2. So, air of higher pressure from the surroundings enters to help in combustion.

Carburetor
1. Air enters the carburetor when the cylinder of the combustion engine has low pressure.

2. The air velocity at the top of the jet is high due to the narrow passage. So, by Bernoulli's principle, the pressure at
this location is low.

3. Thus, the atmospheric pressure which is higher will force the petrol to go up to the jet and is ejected to form a spray.

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Insecticide Sprayer

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.

Football
In some of the sport such as football, a player can make the ball move in a curve path by spinning the ball.

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Test Power 28
Explain how an up-thrust is produced when the aeroplane is moving.

Answer:

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.

Test Power 29
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.

Answer:

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.

Test Power 30
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.

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