Cambridge (CIE) O Level Your notes

Physics
1.8 Pressure
Contents
Pressure & Forces
Pressure in a Liquid

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 Pressure & Forces
Your notes
Pressure
Pressure is defined as
The force applied per unit area
For example, when a drawing pin is pushed downwards:
It is pushed into the surface, rather than up towards the finger
This is because the sharp point is more concentrated (a small area) creating a larger
pressure

Equal Forces but Inequal Pressures

When you push a drawing pin, it goes into the surface (rather than your finger)
Example 1: Tractors
Tractors have large tyres
This spreads the weight (force) of the tractor over a large area
This reduces the pressure which prevents the heavy tractor from sinking into the
mud
Example 2: Nails
Nails have sharp pointed ends with a very small area
This concentrates the force, creating a large pressure over a small area
This allows the nail to be hammered into a wall
The pressure at the surface of a fluid can be calculated using the equation:

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 F
P = A Your notes
Where:
P is pressure (Pa)
F is force (N)
A is area (m2)
Pressure is measured in the units Pascals (Pa)
The area should always be the cross-sectional area of the object
This means the area where the force is at right angles to it
This equation can be rearranged with the help of a formula triangle:

Formula Triangle for Pressure

Pressure, force, area formula triangle

This equation tells us that:
If a force is spread over a large area it will result in a small pressure
If it is spread over a small area it will result in a large pressure

Pressure of High Heels vs Flat Shoes

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 Your notes

High heels produce a higher pressure on the ground because of their smaller area,
compared to flat shoes

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 Pressure in a Liquid
Your notes
Pressure in Liquids
A fluid is either a liquid or a gas
When an object is immersed in a fluid, the fluid will exert pressure, squeezing the object
This pressure is exerted evenly across the whole surface of the fluid and in all directions
The pressure exerted on objects in fluids creates forces against surfaces
These forces act at 90 degrees (at right angles) to the surface

Pressure on an Object in a Fluid

The pressure of a fluid on an object creates a force normal (at right angles) to the surface

The pressure of a fluid on an object will increase with:

Depth within the fluid
Increased density of the fluid

Liquid Barometers
Barometers are instruments used to measure atmospheric pressure
A liquid barometer consists of a glass tube filled with liquid, inverted into a container of
the same liquid, with a vacuum at the top of the tube

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 Atmospheric pressure pushes the liquid up the tube
The height of the liquid column indicates the atmospheric pressure Your notes
The higher the atmospheric pressure, the higher the liquid rises in the tube
The lower the atmospheric pressure, the lower the column height
A common example is a mercury barometer

Atmospheric pressure pushes the liquid up the glass tube because there is a vacuum at
the top. The height, h, of the liquid column is used to measure atmospheric pressure.

Calculating Pressure in Liquids

The pressure is more accurately the difference in pressure at different depths h in a
liquid, since the pressure changes with the depth
The pressure due to a column of liquid can be calculated using the equation
Δ p = ρg Δ h

Where:
Δp = change in pressure in pascals (Pa)

Where 1 Pa = 1 N/m2
ρ = density of the liquid in kilograms per metre cubed (kg/m3)

g = gravitational field strength on Earth in newtons per kilogram (N/kg)

Δh = change in height of the column in metres (m)

The force from the pressure is exerted evenly across the whole surface of an object in a
liquid, and in all directions

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Even Pressure on an Object in a Fluid
Your notes

The force from the pressure of objects in a liquid is exerted evenly across its whole
surface

Worked Example
Calculate the depth of water in a swimming pool where a pressure of 20 kPa is exerted
due to the water. The density of water is 1000 kg/m3 and the gravitational field
strength on Earth is 9.8 N/kg.
Answer:
Step 1: List the known quantities, converting any units necessary:
Pressure due to fluid, Δp = 20 kPa = 20 000 Pa
Density of water, ρ = 1000 kg/m3
Gravitational field strength, g = 9.8 N/kg
Step 2: Rearrange the relevant equation for depth:
The equation for pressure in a fluid is
Δp = ρgΔh
Rearrange for depth, Δh
Δp
Δh =
ρg
Step 3: Substitute the known quantities:

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 Depth is
20 000
Δh = Your notes
1000 × 9 . 8
Δh = 2 . 0408 m
Give the answer to 2 significant figures (like the values given in the question)
Δh = 2.0 m

Examiner Tips and Tricks

This pressure equation will be given on your formula sheet, however, make sure you
are comfortable with rearranging it for the variable required in the question!

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