Categories

Topic 9: Light | Physics Form 1 Topic 8: Work Energy And Power | Physics Form 1 Topic 7: Pressure | Physics Form 1 Topic 6: Structure And Properties Of Matter | Physics Form 1 Topic 5: Archimedes’ Principle And Law Of Flotation | Physics Form 1 Topic 4: Force | Physics Form 1 Topic 3: Measurement | Physics Form 1 Topic 2: Introduction To Laboratory Practice | Physics Form 1 Physics Form One Full Notes

TOPIC 7: PRESSURE | PHYSICS FORM 1

TOPIC 7: PRESSURE | PHYSICS FORM 1

PRESSURE

Pressure is defined as the compressive force acting normally per unit area;

The SI units of pressure is Newton per metre square (N/m2)

Other units of pressure are Pascal (Pa), Atmosphere (atm), Millimeter of mercury (mmHg) and Torre bar (bar).

NB.

1Pa = 1N/m2 1atm = 760mmHg

1atm = 100000N/m2 1atm = 1bar

Pressure due to Solid

Pressure on solid depends on force applied and the surface area.

That is    𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆(𝑷)

Example.

4. Find the pressure exerted when a force of 640N acts in the area of 16m2

Solution:


Force (f) = 640N Area (A) =16m2 Pressure (p) =?

Assignment

1. A pressure of 75N/m2 is resulted from a certain force acting on an area of 0.8m2. Calculate its force acting on it.    (ANS: F= 60N)

2. Find the pressure exerted when a force of 3600N act on the area of 36m2

Maximum and Minimum Pressure

Maximum pressure is the value of high pressure and it is determined when a force acts perpendicular to the smallest area.

Minimum Pressure is the value of low pressure obtained when a force acts normally per largest area

N.B

Pressure depends upon the area (The smaller the surface area the greater the pressure and vice versa)

For example it is easy to cut the meat using a sharp knife than a blunt one, this is because the sharp knife has smaller area which produces the larger pressure than the blunt one.

Examples

1. A rectangular block weighting 320 N has dimensions 4 m by 2 m by 10 m. what is the greater pressure and the least (minimum) pressure it can be exerted on the ground

SOLN

Maximum area = 4 x 10 = 40 m2

Minimum area = 2 x 4 = 8 m2

Assignment 1

1. A woman weighting 500N wear a pair of shoes with heels of area 250 m2, what is the pressure exerted on the floor by a heel of her shoes? (ANS: P = 2 N/m2 )

2. Calculate the pressure under the feet of Fatima if the area of contact of her foot is 80 cm2 and her mass is 43.8 kg

3. The tip of the needle with cross section area of 0.000001m2, if a doctor applied a force of 20N to a syringe that is connected to the needle. Find the pressure exerted at the tip of the needle    ANS:    P = 20000000 N/m2

4. A rectangular metal block with sides 1.5 m by 1.2 m by 1.0 m rests on a horizontal surface .If the density of the metal is 7000 kg/m3, calculate the

maximum and minimum pressure that the block can exert on the surface. (Take the weight of 1 kg mass to be 10 N)

5. The mass of cuboid is 60 kg. If it measures 50 cm by 30 cm by 20 cm. What is the maximum pressure that it can exert?

6. A rectangular block of weight 15 N rests on a horizontal table. If it measures 40 cm by 30 cm by 20 cm, calculate the greatest and least pressure

Examples of Solid Pressure in daily life

We experience pain discomfort when we lift a bucket of water made by thin handle

Sharp edges of knife or razor cuts easily than blunt knife or razor

Sharp pointer of nail, screw, push pin, spear and an arrow has high penetrating power

Wide wooden or concrete (large area) sleepers are placed below the railway track to prevent railway track to penetrate on ground.

Buildings are constructed with wide (large area) foundation to increase surface area so as to prevent wall from penetrating on ground

Feet of elephant cannot sink into soft soil even if it is very heavy due to large surface area over elephant feet

A tractor works on soft ground cannot sink due to wide tyres

Duck cannot sink on soft mud due to large surface area on his webbed feet

Potter puts some soft material on his/her head for heavy load to increase surface area

It is painfully to walk on barefoot on a road that is covered by pebbles

Pressure in Liquids

A liquid will exert pressure on an immersed object as well as on the walls of the container holding it

The pressure in the liquid increases with the increase in depth of the liquid

Pressure in a liquid act equally in all directions

Pressure in a liquid increase with the increase in density of the liquid

From pressure:

The pressure in liquids is given by

The pressure at any point in a liquid at rest depends on:

a) Depth (height through which the liquid rises)

b) Density of the liquid

Variation of pressure with depth

The pressure in a liquid increases with depth (the greater the height above a point , the greater the pressure at that point)

This can be demonstrated by the following experiment

a) Take a tall vessel and make three holes of the same diameter from the top downward

 

 

 

 

 

 

b) Fill the vessel with water up to the brim, and observe the way in which water spurts from each hole (See the fig. below)

Observations:

Water is pushed through the holes at different speeds. More water is pushed through hole A than hole B, and least water is pushed through hole C

The pressure at hole A is greater than that at hole C due to different in heights (ie. Pressure in a liquid increase with depth)

That is why the bottom of a dam is made thicker than the top because the pressure at the bottom is much greater than at the top

Question

1. Explain why a diver at the bottom of the dam experiences greatest pressure ANS: At the bottom of the dam the depth is greatest and therefore the diver experiences greatest pressure due to the weight above him

Examples of Pressure in liquid in real life

The water bubbles increase in its volume if moves from the bottom of the pond to the top of the pond (depth decreases)

Water tanks have their outlets fixed at the bottom (high depth)

A person at great height suffers from nose bleeding

A hole at the bottom of a ship is more dangerous than one near the surface

A dam is thicker at the bottom than at the top

Communicating Vessel

Communicating vessel finds its own level even though each part has different shape, the liquid will be at the same level in all parts

Spirit Level

Is an instrument used to test whether a surface is horizontal or vertical.

Read Also  Physics Past Papers Form Four

It consists of a slightly curved glass tube which is not completely filled with a liquid (yellow in color) leaving a bubble in the tube

 

 

 

 

Mechanism

A spirit level works on the fact that a liquid in a vessel will always find its own level.

A Spirit level is used by

  • Masons
  • Carpenters
  • Surveyors e.t.c

Examples

1. What will be the pressure due to column of water of height 4m?

Data given

Solution

Height, h = 4m

Density of water, ρ = 1000kg/ m3 = 1g/cm3 Gravitation force, g = 10N/kg

Pressure exerted, P =?

From: P = ρhg


P = 1000 x 4 x 10 = 40000 N/m2

Consider the diagram below

2. A cube of sides 2cm is completely submerged in water so that the bottom of the cube is at depth of 10cm. Find

a) Different pressure between top and bottom of the cube

b) Different force between top and bottom of the cube

c) Weight of water displaced by the cube

Solution

a) Different pressure between the top and bottom of the cube, ΔP =?

Data given

Water density, ρ = 1000kg/ m3 = 1g/cm3

Gravitation force, g = 10N/kg

Height at top, h2 = 8cm = 0.08m

Height at top, h1 = 8cm = 0.1m

Solution

Water density, ρ = 1000kg/ m3 = 1g/cm3 Gravitation force, g = 10N/kg

Height at top, h2 = 8cm = 0.08m Height at top, h1 = 8cm = 0.1m

a) Different force between top and bottom of the cube, ΔF =?

From:

But: A = 2cm x 2cm = 4cm2 = 0.0004 m2


Δ Force = ΔP x A = 200 x 0.0004 = 0.08 N

b) Weight of water displaced, w =?

The volume of water displaced = Volume of the cube

Then: volume of water (cube) = (2 x 2 x 2) cm3 = 8cm3

Mass of water displaced = volume x density = 8 cm3 x 1 g/cm3 = 8 g

c) Weight of water displaced, w =?

The volume of water displaced = Volume of the cube

Then: volume of water (cube) = (2 x 2 x 2) cm3 = 8cm3

Mass of water displaced = volume x density = 8 cm3 x 1 g/cm3 = 8 g

Assignment

Where necessary use g = 10 N/kg, density of water = 1000 kg/m3 (1g/cm3)

1. The pressure at a bottom of a well is 98000 N/m2. How deep is the well

2. Calculate the pressure exerted on a diver at a depth of 20m below the surface of water in a sea    (ANS: P = 200000 Pa)

3. A rectangular tank measures 5 m by 3 m at its base .It contains water to a height of 3m. Calculate the pressure on the base of the tank .

4. A small submarine has an area of 1 000 m2. What force would be exerted on the submarine by the water if it was submerged to a depth of 50 m?

5. Given that there is a considerable decrease in atmospheric pressure of 1.2 x 103 Pa for every 100 m increase in height ,determine the density of air

Pascal’s Principle of the hydraulic Press

It states that:    “Any external pressure applied to the surface of an enclosed liquid will be transmitted equally throughout the liquid”

OR

“Pressure applied at a point in a fluid at rest is transmitted equally to all parts of the fluid”

Consider the diagram below

Hydraulic Press

Is a machine press using a hydraulic cylinder to generate a compressive force

Hydraulic press uses Pascal’s principle to multiply an applied effort using the pressure of a liquid or gas. This allows the lifting of a heavy load by applying little effort

See the fig below

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to Pascal’s principle, pressure will be transmitted equally through the fluid(oil) (P1 = P2)


Also, From: The principle of moment

Anticlockwise moment = clockwise moment

Example

1. In a hydraulic press the area of the piston to which the effort is applied is 5 cm2. If the press can raise a weight of 2 KN when an effort of 400N is applied, what is the area of the piston under the load?

Solution:

Given: Small Piston Force, f =400 N

Large Piston Force, F = 2 KN = 2000 N Small piston area, a = 5 cm2

Large piston area, A =?

The area of the piston A = 25 cm2

Assignment 2

1. Hydraulic press has a large circular piston of diameter 0.7 m and circular piston to which the effort is applied of diameter 0.21 m. A force of 300N is exerted on the small piston. Find the force required to lift a heavy load (ANS: F = 3333.33N)

2. Pistons of hydraulic press have their areas given as 0.0003 m2 and 0.02 m2 respectively. A120 N is required to push down the small piston, find the force required to push the large piston    (ANS: F = 8000 N)

3. A hydraulic lift has piston with areas of 0.02 m2 and 0.1m2. A car with a weight of 5000 N sits on a platform mounted on the large piston

a) How much force applied on small piston    (ANS: F = 1000 N, h = 1.5 m)

b) How for must small piston fall when large piston raise the car at 0.3m?

3. A car of mass 8000kg, one of its tyres having an area of 50 cm2 in contact with ground. Find the pressure of the four-wheel car exerted on the ground by the car (ANS: P = 4000000 N/m2)

Uses of Hydraulic Press in Daily Life

1. Used in lifting heavy loads to the required height

2. In ginneries to compress a lump of cotton into small bales

3. In industries to form car bodies into the required shapes

4. Extraction of oil from the oil seed

5. Cranes used during construction of any project

6. Office chairs use hydraulic systems to lift or lower or lean back the seats

7. Brakes of cars use hydraulic systems

8. Hydraulic jack for lifting car up for any repair

Hydraulic brake system

When force is applied on the brake pedal, it exerts pressure on the master cylinder

Then this pressure is transmitted by the brake fluid to the slave cylinders which cause the pistons of the slave cylinders to open the brake shoe and hence the brake lining presses the drum.

The rotation of the wheel is then resisted and when the force on the brake pedal is withdrawn the return spring pulls back the brake shoe which then pushes the slave cylinders piston back

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NB: Advantage of this system is that: The pressure exerted in master cylinder is transmitted equally to all other parts in the liquid.

Manometer

Is a device used for measuring fluid (gas) pressure

It is a u-shaped glass tube, open at both ends and holding liquid (water/mercury)

Mechanism of Manometer

One limb is connected to the fluid supply and the other limb is opened to the atmosphere. The pressure exerted on a fluid causes the level of water or mercury on manometer to rise at a certain height as shown in the figure above.

Read Also  TOPIC 1: WAVES | PHYSICS FORM 4

The difference in level (h) of the liquid in the two limbs records the pressure and the height h is called “the liquid head”

Liquids Densities

Hare’s apparatus is used to compare the densities of two liquids

When the air at the top as shown in the fig. below is sucked out, the atmospheric pressure pushes the liquid up the tubes (This is because the atmospheric pressure acting on the surface is now greater than the pressure inside the straw)

On closing the openings when the liquids have reached a convenient height for measurement, the liquids produce the same pressure at X and Y

Atmospheric Pressure

Is the pressure within the atmosphere of the earth OR

N.B:

Is the pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere

Atmospheric Pressure decreases with the increase in altitude

At high altitudes, where the pressure of the air is less , nose – bleeding may occur due to the greater excess pressure of the blood which causes blood capillaries to burst

How Gas exerts Pressure?

Gas exerts pressure when its molecules are continually colliding with each other and with the walls of the container causing a small force on the wall. The pressure exerted by the gas is due to the sum of all these collision forces. The more particles that hit the walls, the higher the PRESSURE

Atmospheric pressure can be observed in several areas.

Example: –

  • In a glass tumbler
  • In a crashing can

Experiments to demonstrate effects of Atmospheric Pressure

a) In a glass tumbler

b) In a crashing can

In a glass tumbler

Fill the glass tumbler with water and place the card firmly on top of the glass so that there is no air between the glass and the glass

 

 

 

 

With your hand on the card, gently turn the tumbler upside down , then remove your hand

Observations

The card holds on the tumbler when it is turned upside down. This is because the atmospheric pressure acting upwards on the card is greater than downward pressure of water acting on the card

In a crashing can

Put a little water in a can. Boil the water while the can is open in order to drive off the air (fig.(a))

Remove the heating source and quickly close the hole tightly

Poor cold water over the can

Observations

When the can is closed and the cold water is poured on it, the can collapses. This is because the steam is condensed into water leaving the inside of the can with partial vacuum. The outside atmospheric pressure crushes the can

Barometer

Is an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure

Simple Barometer

This is the most fundamental of the other types of barometer.

It uses mercury instead of water because mercury is denser than water

It has a height of 76 cm at sea level. Therefore, the atmospheric pressure at sea level is 76 cm of mercury (76 cmHg)


 

 

 

 

Atmospheric pressure is given by:    P = ρ h g Fortin Barometer

Fortin Barometer is a modified simple barometer. It is a very accurate type of mercury barometer for measuring air (atmospheric) pressure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It performs functions like that of simple barometer

Aneroid Barometer

Is a barometer which is mostly used in aeroplanes to record the air pressure at a certain altitude

Aneroid Barometer does not use any liquid. It consists of an evacuated metal box connecting a system of levers and a pointer. It is compacted and portable

Aneroid barometer which is used in aircraft to show the height at which the plane is flying is called Altimeter


 

 

 

 

Advantages of Aneroid Barometer over Fortin’s Barometer

Aneroid Barometer

It is used to measure air pressure in confined spaces

It is compact and portable

It is used in aircraft to show the height at which the plane is flying (The barometers used are called Altimeters)

Disadvantages of using Fortin barometer

a) Mercury is expensive and toxic

b) It is not portable (it is approximately 1 m tall and contains liquid)

c) It must be mounted in a vertical position

NB:

Aneroid barometer which is used in aircraft to show the height at which the plane is flying is called Altimeter

Application of Atmospheric Pressure

There are a variety of common and even simple devices that work under atmospheric pressure (working under the Principle that air exerts pressure). These include

1. Siphon

2. Lift pump

3. Force pump

4. Syringe

5. Bicycle pump

Siphon

Is a tube or pipe that allows liquid to flow from the higher level to the lower level

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Siphon is a tube or pipe used to transfer liquid from one container to another container by using atmospheric pressure to make liquid flow

The pressure on the surface of the liquid is atmospheric pressure.

Since end C of the tube is below the surface A by height h, thus the pressure at C is greater than that at the surface. (ie. Pressure at C = pa + 𝝆𝒉𝒈)

NB: Siphon can lift water about 10 m below the ground

Application of Siphon in everyday life

It is used in the toilet flushing cisterns (Chain and ball flushing tank)

It is used in Siphon rain gauge to automatically drain out the excess water

A siphon cup is a reservoir attached to a gun

It is used in some drainage systems to drain water to another point

Lift Pump

Is used to raise water from underground water sources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lift pump is a pump that is used to lift the liquid rather than force liquid up

How it works

The pump starts with the piston at the bottom of the empty cylinder and both valves closed (fig.(a))

The pump handle is then pushed down lifting the piston upwards (upstrokes). The transfer valve remains closed and the intake valv opens to allow water from the external source to fill the lower chamber(fig.(b)). This is due to the low-pressure region created between the valve A and the Piston

The handle is then lifted upwards pushing the piston down (Down strokes). The intake valve now closes and the transfer valve opens (fig.(c)). This allows water to pass into the upper chamber

Read Also  TOPIC 8: TEMPERATURE | PHYSICS FORM 2

Finally, the pump handle is pushed down again lifting the piston upward. Transfer valve closes and Intake valve opens to allow water from the external source to fill the lower chamber. The water in the upper chamber is lifted and flows out of the spout (This process is repeated continuously)

Limitation of Lift Pump

It can lift water up to height of 10 m

Few strokes are required

Force Pump

Is a modified of a lift pump which can be used to raise water to a height of more than 10 m

Advantages of a force pump over a lift pump

Force pump enables continuous flow of water

Force pump is able to move water from greater depths than the lift pump

Height to which water can be raised does not depend on the atmospheric pressure

Syringe

Is a simple piston pump that is used to inject fluid into or withdraw fluid from the body

How it works

It consists of a plunger that fits in a tube. The plunger is pulled and pushed while inside a cylindrical tube or barrel. This action enables the syringe to take in or expel fluid through the opening (nozzle) at the end of the tube

Uses of the Syringe

Used for medical purpose e.g. Injecting vaccines

They are used to measure liquids and gases in the laboratory

Used to apply in a certain compound such as glue or lubricant

Bicycle Pump

Is a type of force pump that consists of a hollow metal cylinder and a movable piston

It is specifically designed for inflating bicycle tyres

Mechanism

When piston is pulled out, a low pressure is created in the region just below the piston. The atmospheric pressure then forces air into the pump trough the space between the piston and the metal cylinder

And when the piston is pushed in, the trapped air below the piston is compressed and the tube of the bicycle is then inflated using a valve

N.B:

Other examples (applications) of atmospheric pressure in our daily life are:-

Detecting altitude of hills and mountains

Drop ink through ink dropper

Drinking straws

Inflate vehicle tires

Cleaning house using vacuum cleaners

Enhance passage of air for breathing etc.

Basic Assignment

Use acceleration due to gravity, g = 10 m/s2 Atmospheric pressure = 101 325 N/m2

1. Define the term pressure and state its SI units

2. State two factors on which the pressure exerted by a fluid depends.

3. Calculate the pressure at the bottom of the pond 10 m deep if the density of water is 1000 kg/m3

4. With the application of the same force, a sharp knife cuts more easily than a blunt knife. Explain why?

5. A glass slab of density 2500 kg/m3 measures 20 cm x 10 cm x 50 cm. What is

a) Maximum pressure

b) Minimum pressure it exerts on a flat horizontal surface?

6. Why can’t water be used as a barometric liquid?

7. Explain why a diver at the bottom of the dam experiences greatest pressure

8. Briefly explain how a bicycle pump works

9. A 40 N block exerts 20 Pa of pressure on a table. What is the area of the block that is touching the table? (ANS: A = 2 m2)

10. Explain the principle of a lift – pump

11. Briefly explain how drinking by using a straw is achieved

12.
A diver is 5 m below the surface of water in a dam. If the density of water is 1000 kg/m3. Determine the pressure due to the water on the diver (ANS: P = 50000 N/m2)

13. The density of mercury is 13600 kg/m3. Determine the liquid pressure at a point 76 cm below mercury level (ANS: P = 103,360 N/m2)

14. Calculate the pressure due to water experienced by a diver working 15 m below the surface. Given that density of sea water is 1.03 g/cm3 (ANS:P =154500 Pa)

15. Explain the following

a) A hole at the bottom of a ship is more dangerous than one near the surface

b) The bottom of the dam is made thicker than the top?

16.A submarine has a surface area of approximately 82 000 m2. If it is travelling at a depth of 300 m in the ocean, what is the total force on the submarine’s outer hull?

17.A rectangular tank which measures 5 m by 4 m contains water to a height of 10 m . Calculate    (i) Pressure on the base    (ii) Thrust on the base

(ANS: P = 100,000 Pa, Thrust (Force) = 2,000,000 N)

18. A red cube with sides of 3 m and a blue cube with sides of 2 m are on a table. They both weigh the same .Which cube exerts more pressure on the table?

19.
A rectangular brick of weight 24 N, measures 60 cm x 20 cm x 30 cm.

Calculate the value of the maximum and minimum pressure

(ANS: PMax = 400 N/m2, Pmini = 133 N/m2)

20. Match the items in List A with the correct ones from list B. Items A can be used more than once

List A List B
a) Atmospheric pressure

b) Pressure

c) Pascal principle

d) Application of atmospheric pressure

e) Razor blades and knife blades

i. Minimum force

ii. Hydraulic press

iii. N/m2

iv. Pascal

v. Maximum force (vi)Manometer

vi. High pressure

vii. Low pressure

viii. Aneroid barometer

ix. Bicycle pump

20.A can holds water with a constant depth of 0.5 m. The surface of the water is exposed to the atmosphere .What is the pressure on the bottom of the can?

21.A can holds water with a constant depth of 1 m. Hole A is punched in the can

0.2 m below the surface of the water and hole B is punched 0.8 m from the surface. From which hole will the water spurt the furthest? Explain your answer

22.What are the advantages of using Aneroid barometer over Fortin barometer 23.Pressure in liquids depends on ———————- and ————————

23. State the Pascal’s principle

24. Calculate the area of a surface of an object which exerts a pressure of 0.2 N/m2 when a force acting on it is 2 N (ANS: A = 10 m2)

25. Mention any two devices which apply Pascal’s Principle

26. Given that both liquid A and liquid B exert the same amount of pressure, what would be height of column of liquid A if density of liquid A is twice density of liquid B and height of column of liquid B is 10 cm? (ANS: h = 5 cm)

27. Water density, ρ = 1000kg/ m3 = 1g/cm3 Gravitation force, g = 10N/kg

28. Height at top, h2 = 8cm = 0.08m Height at top, h1 = 8cm = 0.1m

You cannot copy content of this page