Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

Pressure
• Pressure is defined as force per unit area
• In equation form,
𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝐹
𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝑝=𝐴
𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

• Where:
o P = pressure (in Pa or in N/m 2 )
o F = force (in N)
o A = area (in m 2 )

• This equation tells us that:

o If a force is spread over a large area it will result in a small pressure.
o If it is spread over a small area it will result in a large pressure.

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

• Worked Example:
The diagram below shows the parts of the lifting machine used to move the platform
up and down.

The pump creates pressure in the liquid of 5.28 × 105 Pa to move the platform
upwards. Calculate the force that the liquid applies to the piston.

By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

Answer:
Step 1: List the known quantities
Cross-sectional area = 2.73 × 10-2 m2
Pressure = 5.28 × 105 Pa

Step 2: Write down the relevant equation

Step 3: Rearrange for the force, F

Step 4: Substitute the values into the equation

Step 5: Round to the appropriate number of significant figures and quote the
correct unit

• Factors affecting pressure in a liquid

1. The pressure beneath the surface of a liquid will increase with the depth of the
liquid
o This is because the pressure in a liquid is caused by the force of the weight of
the liquid above it
o As the depth increases, there is increasingly more liquid above which causes
the pressure to increase
2. Pressure in a liquid also depends on the density of the liquid
o The denser the liquid, the greater the pressure it exerts

By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

3. In a column of water, the highest pressure would be at the bottom

Pressure in a column of water increases with depth, shown by the strong and
weak jet of water

• Calculating liquid pressure

o The pressure acting on an object in a liquid change with depth
o The equation for the pressure difference at different depths in a liquid is given by
the equation:

• Where:
o Δp = change in pressure, measured in pascals (Pa or N/m 2 )
Where 1 Pa = 1 N/m2
o ρ = density of the liquid, (kg/m3)
o g = gravitational field strength on Earth, (N/kg)
o Δh = change in height of the column, (m)

• Worked Example
Calculate the depth of water in a swimming pool where a pressure of 20 kPa is
exerted. 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
Pressure,
Density of water,
Gravitational field strength,

By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

Step 2: List the relevant equation

Step 3: Rearrange for height, Δh

Step 4: Convert any units

Step 5: Substitute in the values

Exercise:
1. A woman is in contact with the floor.

In which of these poses does she produce the most pressure on the floor?
Assume she is wearing flat shoes in each pose.
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D

2. Which is an example of a force acting over a small area to produce a large pressure?
A. A skier wearing large skis on snow
B. A hammer being used to push a nail into a piece of wood
C. A tractor having very wide tires
D. A person lying down, rather than walking upright on a roof

By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

3. A water-filled tank is resting on a table as shown in figure below.

Using the measurements in the diagram, determine the area which should be used to
calculate the pressure the tank exerts on the table.
A. 0.25 m 2
B. 0.5 m 2
C. 0.75 m 2
D. 1.0 m 2

4. The diagram shows four measuring identical cylinders containing either distilled water
or concentrated sugar solution.
which measuring cylinder has the least pressure at the base, due to the liquid?

5. For the tank of water in the diagram below, which value gives the pressure on the base
of the tank due to the water?

(The density of water = 1000 kg/m 3 )

A. 5000 Pa
B. 5500 Pa
C. 5880 Pa
D. 6570 Pa

By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

6. A briefcase, with flat, rectangular sides rests on the floor as shown in the diagram

The briefcase is now turned so that it rests with its large, flat side on the floor

How has the change affected the force on the floor, and the pressure exerted by the
briefcase on the floor?

7. A small metal block is suspended under the surface of a beaker of water by a string.
The metal block experiences a pressure exerted by the liquid.

What would increase the pressure exerted on the metal block?

A. Increasing the surface area of the stone
B. Using a liquid with a lower density
C. Increasing the mass of the metal block
D. Lowering the metal block deeper into the liquid

By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

8. A wooden block rests on a table.

On which surface should the block be laid to produce the largest pressure on the table?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. Any side, they will all produce the same pressure

9. For the tank of water in the diagram below, which value gives the pressure on the base
of the tank due to the water? (The density of water = 1000 kg/m 3 )

A. 6500 Pa
B. 6900 Pa
C. 7400 Pa
D. 7900 Pa

10. What pressure does the object in the diagram below exert on the ground beneath it?

A. 4.0 Pa
B. 6.0 Pa
C. 12 Pa
D. 24 Pa
By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

11. The table gives four combinations of the force applied to a surface and the area over
which it acts.
Which row gives the smallest pressure exerted on the surface?

12. Three beakers of water are placed on a table. The depth of water in each container is
the same.

In which container does the water exert the greatest pressure on the base of the
container?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. None, the pressure is the same in all three

13. A person walking through snow sinks into it.

The person makes a change so that they do not sink as far next time they go out.
What do they do?
A. Crouch as they walk to lower their centre of mass
B. Run as fast as they can do increase the power they dissipate
C. Wear shoes with much larger area on the bottom to increase the area of their feet in
contact with the snow
D. Wear a heavy backpack to increase their weight and so make them more stable

By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

14. There is a significant risk to submarines which dive to very great depths.
Why is it dangerous to do this?
A. The temperature of water is too low at greater depths
B. The density of water is less at greater depths
C. The pressure is too great at greater depths
D. The gravitational pull increases at greater depths

15. Calculate the difference in the pressure on the ground when the ornament’s position is
changed.

A. 1000 Pa
B. 1250 Pa
C. 1500 Pa
D. 2000 Pa

16. Describe how the pressure beneath the surface of a liquid changes
a. With depth

b. With density of the liquid

17. A swimmer dives to the bottom of a swimming pool which is 2m deep. Calculate the
pressure on the swimmer. The density of the water in the pool is 1000 kg/m 3 .

18. A student of weight 550 N is wearing shoes so that his two feet have a total area of
0.020 m 2 . Calculate the pressure exerted by the student on the ground when
standing on both feet.

By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

19. The weight of a car is 20 000 N. For each tyre, the area in contact with the road is 0.1
m2 .
a. For the car shown in figure above, calculate the total area of the car tyres which are
in contact with the road surface.

b. Calculate the total pressure exerted by the car on the road

20. The weight of the skier shown in figure below is 750 N. For each ski, the area in
contact with the snow is 0.2 m 2 .

a. Calculate the total area of the skis which is in contact with the snow.

b. Calculate the total pressure exerted the skier on the snow.

c. The skier has been told that using narrower skis will make her go faster.
She switches to skis which each have a surface area of 0.15 m 2 .
State how this will affect the pressure which the skier exerts on the snow.

By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

21. Figure below shows liquid in a cylinder.

Table below gives some data about the cylinder and the liquid.
Radius of cylinder 3.5 cm
Weight of empty cylinder 2.5 N
Depth of liquid 12.0 cm
Density of liquid 900 kg/m 3
The cylinder containing liquid is placed on a digital balance that displays the mass in
kg. Calculate the reading shown on the balance.

22. Figure below shows a device called a manometer that measures the pressure of a gas.

The pressure of the gas is 400 Pa greater than atmospheric pressure.

Calculate the density of the liquid.

By Stanley Fincen
Name: Date: 02/05/2025-05/05/2025

23. On a particular day, the atmospheric pressure is 1.0 ×10 5 Pa. A bubble of has forms
at a point 5.0 m below the surface of a lake. The density of water is 1000 kg/m 3 .
a. Determine the total pressure at a depth of 5.0 m in the water

b. Determine the pressure of the gas in the bubble

24. Figure below shows an archer pulling the string of a bow.

The archer uses a force of 120 N. The force acts on an area of 0.5 cm 2 on the
archer’s fingers. Calculate the pressure on the archer’s fingers.

25. Figure below shows a submarine. The submarine is fully submerged in the sea.

a. The atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa and the total pressure on the top surface of the
submarine is 500 kPa. Calculate the depth of the top surface of the submarine
below the surface of the sea.

b. A hatch (an opening door) on the top surface of the submarine has an area of 0.62
m 2 . Calculate the downward force on the hatch due to the total pressure on the
top surface of the submarine.

By Stanley Fincen