3 FORCES AND PRESSURE

3.1 UNDERSTANDING
PRESSURE
1. Define
Pressure
Pressure
is force per unit area
2. State
formula
pressure’s Pressure =
Force Area
F
P
A

-2
= Pascal = Pa The SI unit :
3. State Nm pressure of a given force increases as
The
relationship
between
surfacepressure
area decreases.
and the
area.
4. Describe applications involving High
Pressure
Increasing the pressure by reducing the area
A sharp knife has a The studs on a Nails, needles and
small surface area on
very boot have only a
football pins have very sharp
its
cutting edge so that small
area of contact with ends with very
pressure can be exerted the
high ground. The pressure small
surface areas.
to cut the meat. under the studs is a force is applied
When
high
enough for them to
the head of a nail,
sink into the
to pressure will drive
the
which gives extra
ground, sharp end into a
its
piece of wood easily. grip.

The sole of an ice is Racing bicycles need

a narrow metal bar.
fixed very high air
high pressure on surface
The inside the
pressure
of the ice so that the because the narrow
tyres,
melts and allowing
ice tyres have a very
ice skater to
the contact area with
small
smoothly .
glide road. The hard
the
surface can support
road
the high pressure
under the wheels.
37
 5. Application involving Low
Reducing
Pressure the pressure by increasing the area
Skis have a large area A tractor moving A wide shoulder pad
reduce the pressure on
to soft ground has
on of a heavy bag
the snow so that they wide
tires to reduce will
reduce the pressure
not sink in too far.
do pressure on the
the exerted on the
ground so that shoulder of the
they
will not sink into person carrying
bag. ground.
the the

Example 1
A block of metal
dimensions 0.5 m x 0.6
of
x 1.0 m has a mass
m
300 kg. Calculate the
of
maximum pressure
acting on the ground.

A student pressing a
into a piece of wood with a force
thumbtack
20 N. The surface area of the
of
of the thumbtack is 1 cm2and
head
the
cross-sectional area of the tip of
2
thumbtack is 0.01
the
cmCalculate:
.
(a) the pressure exerted by
the student’s thumb on the
of the
head
(b) thumbtack
the pressure of the tip of
the thumbtack on the
(c) wood.
What conclusion can
be drawn from your answers
(a)toand (b)?
38
3.2 UNDERSTANDING PRESSURE IN
LIQUIDS
What is A liquid in a container exerts pressure because of
pressure in its
weight.
liquid? For example, if you try to put your finger over the end of
a
tap when it is turned on, you can feel the pressure of
water in the pipe.
the
Characteristics of Pressure in a liquid.

The pressure at any The pressure in a liquid The pressure in a

point in a liquid, at liquid
does not depend on the acts equally in
particular depth,
a area of its surface. directions and does not
all
equally in
acts depend on the shape of
all
directions. the container.
Relate depth The pressure in a liquid is
to pressure proportional to the
directly
in a liquid . The pressure in a liquid increases
depth.
depth.
with

Relate The pressure in a liquid

density to directly proportional to
is
pressure in density of the liquid.
the
a liquid

Derive the formula The container on the right has a base area A. It
the pressure in
for filled to a depth h with a liquid of density
is
liquid.
a Calculate:
ρ.
(a) volume of liquid =
Ah
(b) mass of liquid = ρV =
ρAh
(c) weight of liquid = mg =
ρAhg
(d) force on base =
ρAhg
F Ahg
(e) pressure gh
A A
=
 Pressure in liquid = ρgh
39
Solve problems involving pressure in liquids .
Example
1
If the density of sea water is 1150 -3,
kgm
calculate the pressure below 40m of sea
due to the water alone.
water

Example
The figure shows a cylinder containing
2
mercury.
liquid

What is the pressure caused by the

mercury at the point
liquid
P?
[ Density
] of liquid mercury is 1.36 x 105kg -3

m
Describe applications of pressure in liquids .
1. Dam holds water at high
The wall of the dam has to
altitude.
be
thicker at the base.
Explain.
The wall of a dam is much
thicker
at the bottom than at the
because it must withstand
top
increased lateral pressure
the
depths of the water.
in
2. Water is stored in water tank
higher level.
at
Why?
Normally a water tank is
at higher level so as to
placed
water at greater pressure.
supply

40
3. Submarine is built with thick
Explain.
wall.
Submarine is built with thick wall so
to withstand enormous pressure
as
greater depth.
at

4. A patient receiving intravenous drips of

certain fluid from a bottle. In order for
a
fluid to flow into the vein, the bottle
the
be placed at a height above the
must
site. Why?
injection
The liquid solution is at a higher
so it has sufficient pressure to flow
pressure
the veins of the patient.
into

3.3 UNDERSTANDING GAS PRESSURE AND ATMOSPHERIC

PRESSURE
Explain gas Gas pressure is the force per unit area exerted by
pressure gas molecules as they collide with the walls of
the
container.
their
Explain Atmospheric pressure is the pressure caused by
atmospheric weight of the air above
the
pressure . us.
Atmospheric pressure acts equally in all
directions.
Atmospheric pressure varies with the height of
object above sea level. It decreases with the altitude
the
the height above sea level. At higher altitudes,
or
density and the temperature of the air are lower. As
the
result, the frequency of collisions of the molecules
a
lower. Hence, atmospheric pressure is lower.
is
Describe
activities
show
to
existence of
atmospheric
pressure

41
 Fill the glass to the top A metal can
water and wet rim
with water is heated until
containing
slightly.
Lie the cardboard on the
water in it
top of the
the Allow the steam to
vaporizes.
Hold the card firmly in
glass. from the mouth of the
exit
place
and turn the glass can.
The can is then capped and
Take away your hand.
over. cooled down with
The cardboard does not water.
tap
and the water remains in
fall As the result , the can
glass.
the crushed and crumpled.
is
The explanation for The explanation for
phenomenon is that
this phenomenon is that
this
resultant force caused
the pressure inside the
the
the atmospheric
by can decrease and the
metal
acts on the surface of
pressure external
cardboard is greater
the pressure ,which is
atmospheric
compresses
the weight
than the metal
of thecan.
water higher
the glass.
in

Describe (i) Drinking straw (ii) Rubber

applications sucker
of
pressure
atm.

When we suck through a .

straw, the air pressure
the straw is
in When the sucker is pressed
Then the pressure of
lowered. into place, most of the
atmosphere acting on
the behind it is squeezed out.
air
surface of the drink
the sucker is held in position
The
the glass pushes the
in the pressure of
by
water up the straw on the outside surface of
atmosphere
into our
and rubber. If the seal between
the
mouth. sucker and the surface is
the
airtight , the sucker will
permanently. stick

42
 (iii) Syringe (iv)Vacuum cleaner

Pulling up the A vacuum cleaner

piston
reduces the atmospheric produces only a
pressure inside the vacuum. The fan inside
partial
The atmospheric pressure
cyclider. cyclinder blows air out
the
on the liquid surface of
the vents. Which less
pushes the luquid up
then inside , the air
air
the syringe.
into there drops. The
pressure
If we then hold the atmospheric pressure
in place and lift the
plunger outside then pushes air up
out of liquid , none will
syringe the cleaner hose
out.
fall This is again
dust and dirt with it. due ,carrying
atmospheric
to
Measuring pressure .
(i)The Simple
atmospheric Fortin
barometer
pressure The simple barometer
By using is along glasstube that
Fortin
Fortin been filled with mercury
has
Barometer the inverted into a dish
and
mercury.
of
The mercury column
or falls according to
rises If the vertical height of
pressure of air on
the mercury is h
the
mercury in the
the cm ,
thefore the
The space above the
dish. pressure reading
atmospheric
mercury column isa “ h cm mercury
is ”.
so it exerts no pressure
vacuum
the top of the
on
column.
mercury

43
How does The height, h will The height, h
the unchanged when
remains increases when the
will
height
of the ,h (i) the diameter of the barometer is
barometer
Fortin tube increases
glass submerged in
slowly
vary? (ii) the glass tube is water.
tilted
(iii the glass tube is The height, h
) lowered further into decreases when
will
dish
the (i) the vacuum space
(iv) the glass tube is in the glass tube is
up lifted
from the with gas
filled
(v) dish
the quantity of mercury (ii) the barometer
in the dish is increased is carried out to
mountain a

Example
The figure shows a mercury barometer is placed in
4
a school laboratory where the atmospheric
pressure is
75 cm Hg.

(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.

Example
The figure shows a barometer. The vacuum space
5
is filled with a gas X.

What is the pressure of the gas X?

[ Take atmospheric pressure = 76 cm Hg ]

44
Measuring Aneroid Barometer When the
atmospheric pressure decreases , the
atmospheric
pressure container will
By using When the
expand.
Aneroid pressure increases, the
atmospheric
Barometer container will
The slight movement
constrict.
the box is magnified by
of
lever system which
a
connected
The to a pointer.
Aneroid barometer is
be used as an altimeter
can
mountaineers or in an
by
plane to determine
aero
altitude
its
Measuring gas. pressure by using manometer

Pgas = P + h
atmosfera
- h Pgas = P
atmosfera
Pgas = P
atmosfera

Example
The figure shows a manometer
1
containing mercury is connected to a
gas supply.

Calculate the pressure of the gas

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

45
Measuring When the gas supply is
gas connected to a
pressure Bourdon gauge, the
by using pressure in the
Bourdon metallic tube will try
curved
Gauge to
straighten
Hence the pointer
it.
rotate
will
.The magnitude of
gas pressure can be
the
read off the scale of
gauge.the

3.4 APPLYING PASCAL’S

PRINCIPLE
Define Pascal’s principle states that when pressure is applied to
Pascal’s enclosed fluid, the pressure will be transmitted
an
Principle throughout the whole enclosed fluid.
equally

Experiment When the piston is pushed

to into the glass sphere the
the
verify of water is shot out from
jet
Pascal’s holes in the glass sphere
the
Principle with the same
This is because the
speed.
pressure acting on
water is
the
uniformly throughout
transferred
water.
the

Pascal’s Output force = output piston

Principle Input force
area input piston
Mathematic area
in
Expression F2 = 2
F 1 A A1

Explain A small input force, F1is applied to the small

hydraulic piston
resulting in a large output force, 2
system F.
Based on the Pascal’s Principle, the pressure is
46
 transmitted uniformly in all
directions,
F1= F 2
A1 A2

When incompressible fluid is moved through a

system, the volume through which the input
hydraulic
moved must be the same as the volume through which
system
output system, Hence
the
A1d 1= A 2 2
Hydraulic d systems acts as a force multiplier.
multiply the input force by a certain factor to gain a
They
output
larger
force.
The magnitude of the force at the large piston depends
(a) the force, F1, applied to the small
on
piston,
(b) the ratio of the surface area of the
piston,
A hydraulic system must not contain any air bubbles
any position of its hydraulic fluid system. This will
in
the efficiency of the system as part of the applied
reduce
will be used up to compress the air bubbles.
force

Example Determine
The figure shows a basic hydraulic system
2 (a) The pressure transmitted in the
has small and large pistons with cross- hydraulic fluid.
sectional area of 0.005 m2and 0.1 m 2 (b) The mass of the load.
respectively. A force of 20 N is applied to (c) If the small piston is pushed down at
the small piston. a depth a 0.04 m, what is the distance
moved by the large piston.

47
Describe application of Pascal’s Principle

(2) Hidraulik Jack When the handle is pulled, valve P

still closed and valve Q opens so
is
the
pressure can be sent to the
piston. The large piston will
larger
While the small piston is pulled
rise.
out,
valve Q closes and valve P opens so
that the oil in the tank enter into
hydraulic cylinder as a result
the
atmospheric
of
By moving the push-pull handle
pressure.
number of times , the large piston
a
be raised carrying a heavy
can
load.
(3) Hidraulik Brake
A small force acting at the pedal
transmit a large force to all
can
simultaneously to stop the
wheels
It is because the pressure will
car.
transferred through the pedal
be
liquid to car’s tyre . brake

48
3.5 APPLYING ARCHIMEDES’
PRINCIPLE
Explain The buoyant force is an upward force resulting from
Buoyant an
object being wholly or partially immersed in a fluid.
force
Relate Buoyant force makes thing seem to be
buoyant lighter.
force
with
the actual
weight and
apparent
weight

The weight of an object in air is its actual

weight
The weight measured when the object is immersed in
fluid is its apparent
a
weight.
The apparent weight loss of the object is due to
force.
buoyant
When in water, the object experiences two
forces:
(a) The actual weight which acts
(b) The buoyant force which acts
downwards
upwards.
The buoyant force is equal to the apparent loss in
weight.
Buoyant force = actual weight – apparent
weight = 25 – 15 = 10
N a volume of water. The bigger
The object displaces
volume of the object immersed, the bigger the volume
the
the liquid
of
displaced.
Volume of liquid displaced = volume of the
part of the object.
submerged
Relate 1. Pour water slowly into a eureka can until it flows
buoyant from the
out
force to 2. spout. an empty beaker and place it under the spout
Weight
weight of
the the eureka can
of
the 3. Suspend a ball of plasticine at the hook of a
liquid
displaced. spring
balance by a string and weigh it in
4. Lower
air. the plasticine into the eureka can until
plasticine is completely immersed in water. Record
the
the
reading of the spring balance

49
 5. When there is no more water flowing out from the
weigh the beaker and water.
spout,

Weight of plasticine in air = x (actual

N
Weight of plasticine in water = y weight)
(apparent
N
Weight of the empty beaker = z weight)
W
N eight of the beaker and displaced water = w
Buoyant force = Actual weight – Apparent
N
weight = (x – y)
Weight of displaced
N water = (w – z)
The result shows that the value of (x – y) = (w –
N.
z)
So the buoyant force = the weight of water displacec
State Archimedes’ Principle state that “ When an object
Archimedes immersed in a fluid (a liquid or a gas) ,the buoyant
is
Principle ( upthrust force) on the object is equal to the weight
force
fluid displaced by the object.
of

From Archimedes’s
Principle :
Buoyant Force = Weight of fluid
displace = mg (note : F =
= Vg (note  = m
ma)
: V )
Thus FB =  V g

Where FB = Bouyant Force or

 Upthrust
= Density of
V fluid
= Volume of fluid displaced or the volume of
object
the that immersed in the fluid.

50
Equation 1. Buoyant force = Weight of fluid
buoyant
for 2. Buoyant
displacedforce =
force ρVg
3. Buoyant force = Weight object in air – weight in water

Question 1
An object is hung from
a spring.
(a) What is the buoyant
force on the object in
water?

(b) What is the weight of water

displaced by the object?

(c) Determine the volume

of water displaced by
the object.
[density of water = 1000 kgm-3]

(d) What is the volume of the object?

Question 2
A stone weights 2.5 N. When it is fully
submerged
in a liquid, its apparent weight is 2.2
N.
Calculate the density of liquid if its
volume displaced by the
stone3is 25 cm3(25 x 10 -6 m ).
Buoyant If Buoyant force =  the object
Force weight floats
and stationary
and Buoyant force >  the object moves
Flotation weight up
Buoyant force =  the object moves
down weight

51
State the A floating object displaces its own weight of fluid in which
Law of floats
it
floatatio
n
Based on Figure (a), (b) ,(c) and Example
(d)
write the equations in words 5
The figure shows a glass tube
relate the forces acting on
to mass 0.012 kg with
of
objects when the objects float
the diameter and cross-sectional area
uniform
and
stationary. x 10-4 m2, and it is filled with
4
so thatsand
it is made vertical in
beaker containing
a
[ Density of water is 1000
water. ] kg -3
m

Determine
(a) The
(b) The mass of sand in the
upthrust
tube. glass

Example
An object of mass 5 kg floats on
4
surface water. What is the
the
experienced by the object.
upthrust

Applications of Archimedes Principle

State the Weight of the ship = weight of sea

for a ship to float
condition displaced
water
sea water.
in
52
 A block of steel will displaced a small volume of
Explain only.
waterSo the buoyant force acting on it is smaller
why a boat its weight. Therefore it
than
made of sinks
A ship floats on the surface of the sea because
steel volume
the of water displaced by the ship is
will
float large. The weight of water displaced is large so
sufficiently
water,
in buoyant force acting on the ship is also greater.
the
a block of
but of ship equal Buoyant force. Therefore it
Weight
steel floats.
Although a ship is constructed of metal, which has
sink.
will Larger density than water, its shape is hollow so
a
the overall density of the ship is smaller than the
that
sea
water.
As a result, the buoyant force acting on the ship
large
is enough to support its weight.

Figure 1
and 2
show a
same boat
sailing in
the sea
water and
the
river. figure 1 figure 2
A boat
submerged ¾ The buoyant forces in the sea and in the river are
will
deeper in the
same
the ¾ This is because the buoyant force is equal to the
river. of the boat which is
weight
¾ The
unchanged.
density of fresh water is lower than sea
¾ The
water.
buoyant force of a floating boat is equal to
weight of water
the
¾ The
displaced.
lower the density of the water, the larger the
of water
volume
¾Adisplaced.
boat must displace more water to obtain
buoyant force to support its weight.
sufficient

53
If
weight is
extra
put into
the boat,
why
will
the boat
float
in the
lower It displaces more water so that there is a
water? buoyant force to support the extra weight.
larger

What is
purpose of
the
Plimsol
line
on a ship?
mark

The density of sea water varies with location. It is

ensure that a ship is loaded within safe limits, the
to
line marked on the body of the ship acts as a
Plimsoll
A ship will be submerged deeper in fresh water
guide.
the density of fresh water is less than the sea water.
because
this reason, a ship must displace more water to
For
sufficient buoyant force to support its
obtain
Moreover, a ship can float lower in the cold season
weight.
cold water has a higher density.
as

SUBMARINE

54
How does a A submarine has a large balast tank, which is used
submarine control its position and depth from the surface of the
to
sink? sea.
When the ballast tanks are filled with water, the
force is smaller than the weight of the submarine.
buoyant
How does a submarine sinks.
The
submarine
rises? When the ballast tanks are filled with air (removed
water) , the buoyant force is larger than the weight of
all
submarine. The submarine rises.
the

HIDROMETER
¾ A hydrometer is an
used to measure the
instrument
density of liquids such as
relative
or acid in
milk
¾ It
accumulators.
consists of a tube with a
at one end. Lead shots
bulb
placed in the bulb to weigh
are
down and enable the
it
hydrometer floats vertically
the liquid.
in
¾ In a liquid of lesser density, a larger volume of liquid must
displaced for the buoyant force to equal the weight. So the more
be
hydrometer is
the
¾ The
submerged.
hydrometer floats higher in a liquid of higher density.

HOT AIR BALLONS

¾ A hot-air balloon displaces a large volume of
The buoyant force due to the surrounding air
air.
equal the weight of the air
is
¾ When
displaced.
buoyant force is smaller, than the
of the total weight of the balloon, the balloon
weight
rise.
will
¾ When the total weight of the balloon is equal
the buoyant force, it remains floating in the air.
to

55
3.6 UNDERSTANDING BERNOULLI’S
PRINCIPLE
State Bernoulli’s principle states that The pressure of a
Bernoulli’ liquid decreases as the speed of the fluid increases
moving
principle
s vice versa.
and

Describe activity to show Bernoulli’s Principle. Explain that a

resultant
force exists due to a difference in fluid pressure.
Activity 1 Activity 2

When the air is blown up in

surface of a piece of paper,
the
observed that the paper moves
it’s When the air is blown harder
up. the
through
This happened because the air straw
The two
, ping-pong balls will
moved at a very high closely to each
move
According to
velocity. The air moved at a very high
other.
Principle, the pressure of
Bernoulli’s between the
velocity
the
moving air decreases as balls.
According to Bernoulli’s
speed of the air
the the
Principle,
pressure of the moving
The higher atmospheric
increases. decreases as the speed of the
air
pressure
which acts at the bottom of increases.
air
paper pushes up the paper.
the The higher atmospheric
caused the ping-pong balls closer
pressure
each other. to
Activity 3 When the air blows harder, the ball is not
down. It is because the air moved at a very
falling
high
velocity between the balls and the wall of
filter
the
According to Bernoulli’s Principle, the
tunnel.
pressure
of the moving air decreases as the speed of
air increases. The bottom of the ball has
the
higher atmospheric pressure which can
the
hold
the ball from falling down.

56
Mark the water level in the vertical tubes P,Q and R in the
figures.
following

Describe the applications of Bernoulli’s principle

A person who stands near a When two speed bots move

railway
feels like falling into it faster
and closely to each other,
suddenly a train moves with a
when accident may be occurred. It
an
speed passes him. It is because
high because the water moved at a
is
the
velocity of the air in front of very
high velocity between the
increases.
him According to Bernoulli’s
boats.
According to Bernoulli’s the pressure of the moving
Principle,
the pressure of the moving
Principle, decreases as the speed of the
air
air
decreases as the speed of the air
increases.
increases. The higher
air The higher water pressure on
pressure behind pushes him
atmospheric side of the boats caused its
either
forward
to each other. closer
.

57
A table-tennis player often gives Bunsen burner
ball ‘top spin’ enabling a hard
the
drive
to be hit over the net and land
the table. A ball hit with
on
swerves considerably in its path.
spin

When the jet of gas flows out

the nozzle with high velocity ,
from
pressure in the Bunsen
the
becomes low(Bernoulli’s
burner
The figure above shows the
A higher external
principle)
surface of the ball, due to spin,
rotating
pressure will be sucked into the
atmospheric
v the air velocity. The spin of
and
hole and be mixed with the
air
ball carry some air with it, and
the
gas .mixture of gas and air
The
resultant velocity of air on the
the
more complete combustion of
allows
surface will therefore be less than
upper
gas. the
and the lower surface greater
v,
v. There is therefore a
than
difference between the upper
pressure
lower surfaces which deflects
and
ball, originally hit from right to
the
in downwards
left
direction
Insect
Filter
Piston
pump
Spray

58
When the piston is pushed, air Water from a tap flows at
forced out through the jet of gas
is speed out of the jet of
high
at
a high speed. water
(nozzle).
According to Bernoulli’s According to Bernoulli’s
the pressure of the moving
Principle, Principle
the pressure
, of the moving
air
decreases as the speed of the air
decreases as the speed of the
increases .
air increases
air
The higher atmospheric pressure The higher air ssure in the
the insect poison container
in ‘pumps’ air from the side tube
vessel
pushwhich
will the insect
the vessel
poisonis liquid
connected. to
through the narrow metallic
up
tube
Carburettor Aerofoil

When the engine is switched on,

is sucked into the venture
air The above figure shows the
Fast moving air in the
tube. streamlines round a thin wing at
section of the tube causes a
narrow angle of attack to the air
an
pressure at this
low It will be seen that the path of air
stream.
The higher atmospheric pressure
region. longer over the upper surface
is
in
the petrol compartment will the lower, and therefore the
than
the petrol into the
push is greater on the upper surface.
speed
The petrol will mix with air before
region. lift is produced by the difference
The
it
flows into the cylinder engine pressure between the two
in
combustion.
for which helps the plane to take-
surfaces,
In addition to its use in
off.
aerofoil is also used in racing
airplanes,
In this case, the downward
cars.
helps to stabilize the car at
force
speeds. high
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