CHAPTER 6: AIR PRESSURE

6.1 Understanding air pressure

Learning outcomes:
The students will be able to:
 explain the existence of air pressure.

AIR AROUND US

PRESSURE
EXERT ON THE
SURFACES
OF THE
OBJECTS

Air pressure is the air around us that presses on the surfaces of the objects that are
in it.

Tekanan udara ialah udara sekeliling kita yang menekan permukaan objek di tempat di
mana ia berada.
Figure 1 below shows that air exert pressure.

Rajah di bawah menunjukkan udara memberikan tekanan

The high air pressure

on the water level
pushes water into the
straw

Low pressure
area in the straw.

Figure 1

Air inside the straw is removed, leaving a low pressure area. The higher air pressure pushes
the water into the straw. This happened everytime when we used to suck drinks from
containers.

Udara dari dalam penyedut minuman dikeluarkan meninggalkan tekanan yang rendah.
Tekanan udara yang tinggi di kawasan luar menyebabkan air ditolak masuk ke dalam
penyedut minuman itu. Ini berlaku setiap kali kita menyedut minuman dari dalam bekas.
Figure 2 shows the air exerts pressure that presses on the cardboard to suppport the water
in the glass. So that water does not spill out of the glass.

Rajah 2.menunjukkan tekanan atmosfera bertindak ke atas pada bahagian bawah kadbod
Tekanan ini mengimbangi daya tekanan air terhadap kadbod . Oleh itu air tidak tertumpah
keluar dari gelas tersebut.

Figure 2(Rajah 2)
.Activity 6.1
1.Label by using arrow the place where air pressure is exerted on the figures below.
Figure(a) has been done as an example.
Dengan menggunakan anak panah, labelkan di mana tekan udara bertindak pada
rajah di bawah.Rajah (a) telah dilabel sebagai contoh.
Drinking straw

liquid liquid
(a) (b) (c)

Liquid(cecair)

(d) (e) floor

KINETIC THEORY OF GAS

TEORI KINETIK GAS

Students will be able to

 explain the existence of air pressure with reference to The Kinetic thoery of
gas .

The kinetic theory model.

ModelTeori Kinetik Gas

A kinetic theory model can be used to stimulate the motion of air particles and show
how air pressure is produced.
Model teori kinetik gas boleh digunakan untuk menjelaskan bagaimana tekanan
udara dihasilkan.

Syringe

Polysteren
ball /Gas
particles

to low voltage d.c supply

 The polystyrene balls is represented as a small particles in the container.

bebola polistirena mewakili zarah-zarah di dalam bekas.

 What will happen when this Kinetic theory model is switch on?
Apakah yang berlaku apabila suis model teori kinetik ini dihidupkan?

 The polystyrene ball will move and continuously hits together against the
wall of container and bounce back. Since a force is exerted by the particles, it
causes the syringe to float at a certain height.
bebola polisterena itu bergerak berterusan , berlanggar sesama sendiri,
menghentam dan memantul dengan dinding bekas. Daya terhasil
menyebabkan omboh tertolak sehingga kepada aras ketinggian yang tertentu.
  Therefore, the motion of air particles explained the existence of air pressure.
Oleh itu, pergerakan zarah-zarah ini menjelaskan bagaimana kewujudan
tekanan udara di dalam bekas.
FACTORS AFFECTING AIR PRESSURE

Faktor –faktor yang mempengaruhi tekanan udara

(a) Volume(isipadu)

 Air pressure increases when volume decrease.

Tekanan udara bertambah apabila isipadu berkurang

Reducing the volume of the container.( Isipadu udara berkurang)

When the volume of the container is reduce, gas is compressed. So the particles
collide more frequently onto the wall of container. This will exert more forcefully .

Apabila isipadu berkurang, gas termampat dan pelanggaran di antara zarah-zarah

dan dinding bekas lebih kerap. Kekerapan pelanggaran ini menghasilkan banyak
daya yang menghasilkan tekanan.

Increase the volume.(isipadu udara bertambah)

Increasing the volume of the container available to the gas increases the distances
between gas particles which reduces the number of collision between gas particles
and the walls of the container, so the pressure the container decreases.
Bila isipadu udara di dalam bekas bertambah, jarak di antara zarah-zarah
bertambah dan bilangan pelanggaran antara zarah dan dinding bekas menjadi
kurang mengakibatkan tekanan udara di dalam bekas berkurang.
(b) Temperature( suhu)

The air particles move faster as a temperature increases. The particles collide and
hit the wall more frequently and forcefully.
Zarah-zarah mendapat tenaga, bergerak dan berlanggar lebih kerap dan
menghasilkan banyak daya. Daya ini akan menghasilkan tekanan tinggi .

Reducing the temperature reduces the average kinetic energy and speed of the gas
particles.
Menurunkan suhu menyebabkan pengurangan purata tenaga kinetik dan kelajuan
zarah-zarah gas.

EXERCISE 6.1
1. Complete the following to explain air pressure using the kinetic theory of
gases.
Lengkapkan yang berikut bagi menerangkan tekanan udara menggunakan
teori kinetik gas.

The air particles are moving __________ in all_____________. The particles

which______ the walls of the container and bounce back exert a
____________ on the wall. This force produces a __________ on the walls.

2. State the two factors affect air pressure:

Nyatakan dua faktor yang mempengaruhi tekanan udara.

(a)

(b)
3. State wether the air pressure increase or decrease in each cases below.
Nyatakan sama ada tekanan udara tinggi atau rendah dalam setiap kes di bawah.
(a) by reffering to the volume
(i)

The air pressure _____________________ as the volume of the

container____________.
(ii)

As the volume _________________, the air pressure_______________.

6.2 Application of Principle of Air Pressure.

Learning outcomes: Student will be able to
 explain with examples things that use the principle of air pressure.
 generate ideas to solve problems using the principle of air pressure
 relate the safety measures taken when using gas under pressure .

There are many appliances in everyday life that function based on the principle of air
pressure.
Terdapat banyak alatan kegunaan harian yang menggunakan prinsip tekanan udara.
Below are some appliances that depend on air pressure to operate.
Di bawah ini adalah alatan kegunaan harian yang cara bekerjanya menggunakan
tekanan udara.
Atmospheric pressure is used in many of the things that we do. For example, when we drink
water with a straw( figure (a) shown). While sucking, our lungs expand and air in the drinking
straw goes into them.

Tekanan atmosfera digunakan di dalam banyak perkara di dalam kehidupan harian.

Sebagai contoh apabila kita menyedut minuman melalui penyedut minuman(rajah
(a)),paru-paru kita mengembang dan tekanan udara di dalam penyedut minuman
menjadi rendah.
The air pressure in the straw decreases and the atmospheric pressure acting on the
surface of water forces the water to move up inside the straw into our mouth.
Tekanan udara di dalam penyedut minuman berkurang dan tekanan atmosfera
bertindak ke atas permukaan udara memaksa air memasuki penyedut minuman dan
terus ke dalam mulut kita.

In the same way, the atmospheric forces a liquid/drink to move into a syringe when
its plunger is withdrawn( figure(b) shown).
Dengan cara yang sama,tekanan atmosfera memaksa cecair/minuman masuk ke
dalam picagari apabila ombohnya ditarik (rajah (b)).
A rubber suckers are used for installing hooks in the kitchen and bathroom. The air
between the rubber sucker and the wall is forced out. So that the atmospheric
pressure pressing on it can hold it firmly against the wall.(figure (c) shown).
Pam penyedut digunakan untuk memasang penyangkut di dalam bilik air dan dapur.
Udara di antara dinding dan penyedut dipaksa keluar. Oleh yang demikian tekanan
atmosfera menyebabkan pam ini melekat kuat pada dinding.
Activity 6.2
1. Draw an arrow to show the air pressures exerted on each figure below.
(a)

(b)

A bent tube filled with water as a

siphone
water flow out
(c) Study the spraying pump picture below. Underline the correct answer
X

Underline the correct answer.

When air is compressed, pressure increases and pushes air out of nozzle at high
speed. Air pressure is ( reduced, increased) at X when air comes out at high speed.
GAS UNDER HIGH PRESSURE

GAS DI BAWAH TEKANAN TINGGI

Learning outcomes.

 relate the safety measures taken when using gas under pressure .
 menghubungkaitkan langkah keselamatan dalam penggunaan gas
bertekanan tinggi.

Gas under high pressure is stored in steel tanks whith thick walls. In homes, the gas
used for cooking is stored in a metal sylinder under high pressure. This is because, it
have more gaseous atoms in a container then, there will be more frequent impacts
against the wall of container causing a great pressure on its wall .
Gas di bawah tekanan tinggi disimpan di dalam silinder yang dindingnya .dindingnya
.diperbuat daripada keluli tebal.Gas memasak di rumah disimpan di dalam silinder
logam yang bertekanan tinggi. Ini adalah kerana lebih banyak molekul gas yang
dimampat di dalam bekas, lebih banyak kesan terhadap dinding bekas yang
menyebabkan tekanan tinggi di dalam tangki gas.

Gas molecules are spread out when they are placed under
pressure they condensed into a liquid.

Safety measures when using gas under high pressure:

1. Do not place the tank near a heat source.

2. Always place the tank upright.
3. Avoid storing incompatible chemicals together.
4. Never dispose of used aerosol can in a fire.
SUMMARY

Colde
Hott
r
er
Increase
d

decrease
d

Air pressure
Air
decreased
pressure
increased

ALL CASES IN
CLOSED CONTAINER
FURTHER REINFORCEMENT EXERCISE

1.

water

The hot tin becomes dented when cold water was poured onto it. Which of the following causes
the occurrence?

A Air pressure outside the tin has compressed it

B The volume of water in the tin has decreased

C Air pressure inside the tin has increased

D Air pressure outside the tin has decreased

2. The gas pressure in a container increases when the

A gas is cooled

B volume of the container is reduced

C number of gas particles decreases

D volume of the container is increased

3. Among the following appliances, which does not work on the principle of air pressure?

A Syringe

B Sucker hook

C Thermometer

D Drinking straw

4. Which of the following is not kept under high pressure?

A Perfume

B Cylinder gas

C Refrigerator
 D Insecticide

5. When using gas under high pressure, the safety measures that need to be taken include

I gas cylinder should be kept far away from heat source

II gas cylinder should not be placed in an enclosed place

III gas cylinder must always be put in an upright position

A I only

B I and II only

C II and III only

D I, II, and III

6. Which of the following can change a gas to a liquid state?

A Heat it in water bath

B Put it in a bigger container

C Heat it with strong flame

D Compress it under high pressure

7.

The activity in the diagram above is carried out to study the factor that affects air pressure.

What will be observed at the end of activity?

A The balloon contracts

B The balloon expands

C The balloon floats on the surface of water

 D The water diffuses into the balloon

8. Which of the following statements is true about air pressure?

A Acts in all directions

B Fixed at all places on the Earth

C Is not affected by heat

D High at the top of a mountain

9. The collision of gas particles on the walls of a container produces

A sound energy

B potential energy

C gas pressure

D frictional force

10.

container
gas
particle

Which of the following can be done to increase the air pressure in the container in the diagram
above?

A Heat the container

B Immerse the container in cold water

C Decrease the number of gas particles

D Add a few drops of concentrated acid onto the container

11. A dented ping-pong ball can become spherical again if it is

A put into cold water

B hit strongly

C pressed hardly

D put into hot water

12. Process X
Gas liquid

A as can be changed into liquid through process X. What is process X?

A Freezing

B Heating

C Cooling

D Sublimation

13. Which of the following principles can be applied to push out the dirt that clogs in a

pipe connected to a sink?

A Buoyancy

B Floating

C Air pressure

D Water pressure

14. Factors that influence air pressure include

I volume of gas

II density of gas

III mass of gas

A I and II only

B I and III only

C II and III only

D I, II, and III

Answers
Activity 6.1
1. (b) (c)

(d) (e)

Excercise 6.1
1. Freely, directions, hit, force, pressure

2. (a) Volume
(b) Temperature
3. (a)(i) increase, decrease
(ii) increase, decrease
Activity 6.2
1. (a)

(b) (c) reduced

Exercise 6.2
1. Spraying pump, Drinking straw, Syringe

2. The air inside the straw is removed.

The air on the water surface pushes up the water into the drinking straw.

FURTHER REINFORCEMENT EXERCISE

1 A 11 D

2 B 12 C

3 C 13 C

4 C 14 B

5 D

6 D

7 B

8 A

9 C

10 A