Topic : 3.

1 Understanding Pressure

Learning Outcome : A student is able to :

1. define pressure and state that

P=F/A
2. describe applications of pressure.
3. solve problems involving pressure.

Vocabulary : Pressure, normal force

Notes

The pressure acting on a surface is defined as normal force. per unit area on the
surface.
Commented [NO1]:
F
Pressure, P = ____

The S.I. of pressure is N m-2 or pascal (Pa)

Example 1 Example 2
A wooden block is placed at different Which shoe will exert a greater pressure on the
position on the surface of a piece of when it is worn by the same women?
plasticine. At what position is the pressure
higher?

Wooden
block

A B Plasticin
e
Answer: B.
Answer: A.

Example 3
 The diagram below shows a wooden block of dimensions 8 cm 10 cm 12 cm. Its weight
is
12 N. On which side should the wooden block be placed to produce a maximum pressure
exerted on the table. What is value of this pressure?

Answer: P = __12___
80 X 10-4

= 1500 Pa

Exercise 3.1

1. A table of mass 50 kg has 4 legs is placed on a floor. Each legs has a cross sectional
area of 25 cm2. Find the pressure exerting on the floor (g = 10 ms-2) :
Solution:

P= 50 X 10___ = 50 kPa
4 X 25 X 10-4

2. The diagram below shows a concrete block of dimension 1.5 m x 2.0 m x 3.0 m. Its
weight is 60 N. Calculate
a) maximum pressure
b) minimum pressure

1.5m

2.0m
3.0m
a) maximum pressure
Pmax = __60__ = 20 N
2 X 1.5
b) minimum pressure
Pmax = __60__ = 10 N
3 X 2.0
APPLICATION OF HIGH PRESSURE

A smaller area of the edge of knife or cutting

tools causes the knife can cut and penetrates
hard materials.

Walking over deep snow is difficult and tiring

because your feet sink at every steps. Skies or
snowshoes make it much easier because they
stop you from sinking in

Studs on the soles of a pair of football give

the player a better grip of the ground as he
dribbles the or running on the field.

APPLICATION OF LOW PRESSURE

Heavy vehicles which travel over soft ground

need very wide tyres. This provides a large
contact area and a lower pressure against the
ground and prevents them sinking in.

A high building possesses a huge surface so

that the lower pressure acting on it prevents
the building from sinking into the ground.

Walking over deep snow is difficult and tiring

because your feet sink at every steps. Skies or
snowshoes make it much easier because they
stop you from sinking in. The skies causes the
pressure becomes smaller.
TUTORIAL

1 1 Pa is equivalent to

A 1 N m2
B 1 m N-2
C 1 N m-2
D 1 m N2

2 Diagram below shows a wooden block on a horizontal surface. The block will
exert maximum pressure on a horizontal surface if it is resting on its face

A STUV
B TWXU
C WXYZ
D UVXY

3 An ice skater is able to glide smoothly across the surface of the ice because

A the low pressure between the edge of the metal bar and the ice melts
B the high pressure between the edge of the metal bar and the ice melts
C the low pressure between the edge of the metal bar and the ice freezes
D the high pressure between the edge of the metal bar and the ice freezes

4 A wooden block with the dimensions of 3 m x 4 m x 5 m is placed on a floor. If

mass of the metal block is 400 kg, what is the maximum pressure that can
exerted by the metal block on the floor?

A 100 N m- 2
B 200 N m -2
C 333 N m - 2
D 480 N m -2
5 The mass of a boy is 60 kg. The pressure exerted by the boy on a floor is 2 x 104
Pa. What is the area of contact between the shoes base of the boy and the floor.

A 1.2 x 10 2 m-2
B 3.0 x 10-2 m-2
C 4.5 x 10-2 m-2
D 6.0 x 10-2 m-2

Structure Question

Diagram A Diagram B

Diagrams A and B show a boy pressing a thumbtack and a coin into a desk with the same
amount of force.

(a) He found that it is easier to press the thumbtack compared to the coin. Explain, why?

Smaller contact area._________________________________________________

[1 mark]
(b) State the conclusion based on your answer in (a).

When the contact area smaller, the pressure applied will be higher____________
[2 marks]

(c) The area of the coin is 3.14 x 10 4 m 2 . Calculate the pressure exerted by the coin,
if the force applied by the boy is 5 N.
P = ___5_____
3.14 x 10 4

= 15923 Pa / 1.59 kPa

[2 marks]

(d) Explain why a container truck uses a lot of tyres.

Increase the contact surface area, therefore pressure on each tire can be reduced._______
[2 marks]