Physics

Hydrostatic pressure
and its applications 15
15.1 Pressure

Let us review what you have previously learnt about the pressure experienced by
surfaces due to solid objects.
Pressure is the force acting on a unit area.

Perpendicular force applied (F)

Pressure =
area (A)

F
The unit of pressure is Newtons per square meter (Nm-2).
As a tribute to the French scientist Blaise Pascal, this unit
has been named as the Pascal (Pa). A

1 N m-2 = 1 Pa

Since pressure has only a magnitude, it is a scalar.

Example 1

A cubic shaped box is placed on a table. If the weight of the box is 400 N and the
area of the bottom of the box is 0.2 m2, find the pressure exerted on the surface of
the table under the box.
Force
Pressure = Area
400 N
=
0'2 m2
= 2000 Pa

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Example 2
The pressure exerted by a pile of soil distributed over an area of 8 m2 of the ground
is 150 Pa. What is the force exerted on the ground due to the pile of soil?

Force
Pressure =
Area
Force = Pressure × area
= 150 N m-2 × 8 m2
= 1200 N

15.2 Hydrostatic pressure

Pressure is exerted not only by solids, liquids also exert pressure. When we place a
solid object on a table, a pressure is exerted on the table because the force acting on
the table due to the weight of the object spreads over the total contact area between
the object and the table.
Similarly, a pressure is exerted on the bottom of a container because, the force
acting on the bottom of the container due to the weight of the liquid spreads over
the bottom surface of the container. The pressure is exerted by the liquid not only
on the bottom of the vessel. The vertical walls of the vessel will also experience the
pressure. Apart from this, there are many more characteristics of pressure due to
liquids (hydrostatic pressure). Let us investigate these characteristics of hydrostatic
pressure.

If you make some holes in a polythene bag,

fill it with water and hold it as shown in Figure
15.1, what would you observe? You will
observe that water exits through all the holes.
Each of these holes exist at a different side of
the bag. Water exits from through every hole
because water pressure exists at the position
Figure 15.1 – Polythene bag with holes
of every hole. From this experiment you will
filled with water
observe that the water pressure acts in every
direction.

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Take a plastic bottle with a height of
about 25 cm, make several holes at
the same level near the bottom and fill
it with water. You will see water
exiting the bottle as shown in Figure
15.2. You will notice that the
horizontal distance traveled by water
coming out of every hole is the same.
This is because the pressure at the
same level of a liquid is the same. Figure 15.2 – Set-up for comparing the hydrostatic
pressure at the same level

Now let us find out how the height of the

water column in a vessel affects the pressure.
Make a set of approximately equally spaced
holes from top to bottom of a plastic bottle
with a height of about 25 cm and fill it with
water. Hold the bottle at some height from
the ground level as shown in Figure 15.3 and
observe how the streams of water leave the
bottle.
Figure 15.3 - Variation of the
pressure with the height of the
You will observe that the speed of the streams
liquid column
of water coming from lower holes is greater
than the speed of water coming from upper
holes. Water exiting a hole has a higher speed when the pressure near that hole is
higher. Therefore, it can be concluded that the pressure in a liquid increases with
the depth of the liquid.

Let us engage in Activity 15.1 in order to find out how the pressure of a liquid
depends on the shape of the liquid column.

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 Activity 15.1

Dependence of liquid pressure on the shape of the water column

a b c d e Tubes of
Find five transparent tubes various
having various shapes as shapes
shown by a, b, c, d and e in
Figure 15.4. Fix them to a
PVC
PVC tube with closed ends as tubes
shown, and fill the system
with water. Record the Figure 15.4 - Investigating the dependence
vertical heights of the water of the shape of the water column on the liquid
columns in each tube. pressure

Tube Vertical height of water column (cm)

a
b
c
d
e

You will notice that the height of the liquid column of each of the tubes is the same.
It is clear from the above experiments that the pressure at the equal levels of a liquid
is the same. Therefore the pressure at the places where all the tubes are fixed to the
PVC tube is also equal. The height of the liquid column of each of the tube is being
the same, we can conclude that the pressure due to a liquid column depends only
on the height of the liquid column and not on the amount of liquid or the shape of
the liquid column.
According to our studies so far on pressure due to a liquid, the liquid pressure has
the following characteristics.
(i) The pressure at a certain point in a liquid depends on the height of the liquid
column above that point. Pressure increases with the height of the liquid
column.
(ii) The pressure at the same level of a liquid is the same.
(iii) At a given point in a liquid, the pressure is the same in all directions.
(iv) Liquid pressure depends on the vertical height of the liquid column. It does not
depend on the shape of the liquid column.

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If the height of the liquid column is h and the density of the liquid is ρ, the weight
of the liquid column above a unit area of the bottom surface of the container is hρg.

mass of the liquid column = density × volume

= ρ × area of its base × height
= ρ × 1 × h = hρ
weight of the liquid column = hρg

As we are concerned with the pressure on the base of the column, we divide the
force by the area. Since this weight spreads over a unit area, the liquid pressure at
the bottom is hρg. This result is true not only for the pressure at the bottom but for
any other depth of a container. If there is a liquid column of height h above any
point in a liquid as shown in Figure 15.5, then the liquid pressure P at that point is
given by,
P=hρg

h
When the unit of h is meters (m), the unit of ρ is
kg m-3 and the unit of g is m s-2, the unit of pressure (P)
exerted by the liquid column is N m-2. As mentioned
ρ before, the commonly used unit of pressure, the
Pascal (Pa), is defined as 1 N m-2.
Figure 15.5 - Pressure at a point
situated at a depth h in a liquid

Example 1
At a certain location, the depth of a certain point in a lake is 1.5 m. Find the pressure
exerted by the water at the bottom of the lake at this location. (Density of water =
1000 kg m-3, g = 10 m s-2)

Pressure = hρg
= 1.5 m × 1000 kg m-3 × 10 m s-2
= 15 000 Pa

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Example 2
The depth of a certain region of the sea is 10 m. Find the pressure exerted at this
region by the sea water. (Density of sea water = 1050 kg m-3, g = 10 m s-2).

Pressure = hρg
= 10 m × 1050 kg m-3 × 10 m s-2
= 105 000 Pa

15.3 Transmission of pressure through liquids

Liquids do not get compressed by forces exerted on them. Therefore, the pressure
exerted at one point in a liquid can be transmitted to another point in the liquid.
A machine constructed to operate based on this principle is known as hydraulic
press. Figure 15.6 illustrates the working principle of a hydraulic press

20 N

piston
piston
B
A
10 cm2 200 cm2

400 N

Figure 15.6 - Hydraulic press

It consists of a liquid volume trapped by two pistons A and B on either side of a

cylindrical liquid columns. Assume that the area of piston A is 10 cm2 and the area
of piston B is 200 cm2. If a force of 20 N is applied on piston A, the pressure it
exerts on the liquid,
20 N
P= F = -3
A 10 m2
= 2 × 104 N m-2
= 20 000 N m-2
= 2 N cm-2

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This pressure is transmitted to piston B through the liquid. Therefore, pressure at
piston B is also 2 N cm-2. That is, the fluid exerts a force of 2 N vertically upwards
on each 1 cm2 of piston B. Therefore the total force exerted on the total area of
200 cm2 of piston B is 400 N (2 x 200). It is possible to transmit a force of 400 N
to the larger piston from a total force of 20 N acting on the smaller piston because
it is possible to transmit pressure through the liquid. (Since the forces acting on
the pistons of liquid pressure machines are very high compared to the force due
to the weight of the liquid column, the force exerted by the liquid column is not
considered in calculations).
Hoists that lift vehicles in motor vehicle service stations are built based on the
principle of pressure transmission through fluids. Figure 15.7 shows the principle
of operation of one type of such hoists.

force (smaller)

large piston
small piston

distance
distance moved
moved
force (greater)
liquid

Figure 15.7 - A hoist used to lift vehicles

This hoist is constructed in such a way that the pressure generated in the oil through
the small force applied on the small piston is transmitted to the large piston through
the oil, transmitting a force equal to the weight of the vehicle placed on the large
piston. This force lifts the vehicle.
However, in order to lift a vehicle, the small piston must be moved by a large
distance. Because this is difficult, in actual hoists used in service stations, the small
piston is replaced by a compressor that pumps oil into the small cylinder.
A jack is used to lift one side of a vehicle when a wheel of the vehicle needs to be
detached. Out of the many types of jacks available, the type that is most frequently
used is the hydraulic jack. such a jack shown in the figure 15.8 . The hydraulic jack
also operates on the principle of pressure transmission.

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Here also a force is applied on a small piston. The pressure caused in the oil by this
force is transmitted to the large piston through the oil, lifting one side of the vehicle.

Figure 15.8 – Hydraulic jack

Another instance where the principle of liquid pressure transmission is applied is

the break system in vehicles. Its principle is shown in figure 15.9.

Piston
Brake Fluid

Brake Pads Pedal

Master cylinder

slave cylinder

Disc Brake

Figure 15.9 – Vehicle break system

In the break system of a vehicle, when the driver applies a force on the break-pedal, it
is transmitted to the piston in the master cylinder. This force exerts a pressure on
the oil inside the cylinder. This pressure is then transmitted through the oil to the
slave cylinder near the wheel. Then the brake-pads connected to the slave cylinder
are pressed to apply a pressure on the break-discs or break-drums. Since the
cross-sectional area of the slave cylinder is larger than that of the master cylinder,
the force applied on the break-pads by the slave cylinder is greater than the force
applied by the driver on the break-pedal.

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 Exercise 15.1
(1) The pressure exerted at the bottom of a container due to a liquid inside
it is 1500 Pa. What is meant by "the pressure is 1500 pa"?
(2) Find the pressure exerted by a mercury column of height 10 cm. (Density of
mercury is 13600 kg m-3).
(3) The depth of a pond is 1.5 m. Calculate the pressure caused by the water at the
bottom of the pond.
(4) The depth at a certain point in the sea is 1 km. Find the pressure exerted by
sea water at the bottom of the sea at that point. (Density of sea water is 1050
kg m-3.)
(5) A tank with a length 5 m, width 3 m and depth 2 m is filled with a liquid of
density 800 kg m-3.
(a) What is the pressure at the bottom of the tank due to the liquid ?
(b) What is the force acting on the bottom of the tank due to that pressure?

15.4 Pressure due to gases

Similar to solids and liquids, gases also exert pressure. There are two ways in
which a pressure can be produced by a gas. One is the pressure caused by the
weight of a column of gas, similar to the pressure caused by a column of liquid.
The atmospheric pressure is produced this way. The other way that a gas can give
rise to a pressure is when a compressed gas attempts to expand. From the activity
described below you can easily see that a compressed a gas causes a pressure.
Activity 15.2

Figure 15.10 – Investigation on gas pressure

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 ● Pour water into a U-tube as shown in Figure 15.10(a). Then the water levels
in the two arms X and Y would become equal.

● Tie the opening of an air filled balloon with a piece of thread making sure that
it can be easily untied.

● Next, connect it to the arm X of the U-tube as shown in Figure 15.14(b) and
tie it with another piece of thread.

● Now slowly undo the knot on the balloon. After removing the knot, you will
be able to see that the water level in arm X goes down while the water level
in arm Y goes up. (Figure 15.10(c))

Since the pressure at all points on the same level of a liquid is the same, the
liquid levels that are equal before connecting the balloon show that the pressures
above the water levels of the two arms are equal.

By filling a balloon with air, we try to restrict a large amount of air inside a
limited volume. That is, we compress the air. When we connect the balloon
filled with compressed air to arm X, the water levels are no longer the same. The
higher water level in arm Y than the water level in arm X shows that the pressure
in arm X at the liquid surface is higher than the pressure in arm Y at the liquid
surface. The reason for the higher pressure in arm X is the additional pressure
exerted on the liquid by the compressed air in the balloon.

Atmospheric Pressure
Earth’s atmosphere extends to hundreds of kilometers above the surface of the earth.
Similar to the pressure produced at any point inside a container filled with water by
the water above that point, a pressure exists at any point in the atmosphere due to
the weight of the air above that point. This pressure is known as the atmospheric
pressure.
The atmospheric pressure was measured for the first time by the Italian scientist
Torricelli. The instrument he used for that purpose is shown in Figure 15.11.

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 Vacuum

pressure due to
mercury

pressure due to the

atmosphere

Figure 15.11 – Mercury barometer

This instrument can be made of a glass tube, about one meter long, with one closed
end. The tube is filled with mercury, turned upside down while making sure that
no air enters the tube, and then immersed in a container of mercury as shown in
figure 15.11. When the tube is mounted in up-right position as shown in figure,
it would be possible to see that the mercury column in the tube drops by several
centimeters, leaving an empty space above the mercury column. The height of the
mercury column left inside the tube is about 76 cm.
Torricelli understood that all the mercury in the tube does not flow down to the
container because the atmospheric pressure keeps pushing on the mercury surface
exposed to the outside. However, the atmospheric pressure is sufficient to balance
the pressure of a mercury column with height of 76 cm. Therefore, the height of the
mercury column is a measure of the atmospheric pressure. Because no air can enter
the space above the mercury column, that space must be a vacuum.
We know that any two points at the same level of a liquid have the same pressure.
Accordingly, since the pressure on the mercury surface outside the tube is equal to
the atmospheric pressure, a point inside the tube at the same level should also have
the atmospheric pressure. By considering the height of the mercury column, the
pressure at the point inside the tube can be calculated using the formula P = hρg.
Therefore, the atmospheric pressure must be equal to hρg.
However, as a convenient unit for measuring pressure, the height of the mercury
column is often used. If the experiment is done at the sea level, the height of the
mercury column would be 76 cm. If the tube is immersed further into the container
with mercury, the height of the mercury column would remain at 76 cm. The space
above the column would be reduced in height. If we incline the tube, even though
the physical length of the mercury would increase, the vertical height of the mercury
column would remain at 76 cm.
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While the atmospheric pressure at the sea level is 76 cm Hg, as we move up from
the sea level, the height of the air column decreases and the atmospheric pressure
decreases. For example, the atmospheric pressure at the top of Everest is about 25
cm Hg. In addition, the atmospheric pressure can change according to the weather.
The instrument constructed using mercury in order to measure the atmospheric
pressure is known as the mercury barometer.
Scale

Indicator

Pressure due to the

atmosphere
Cavity

Figure 15.12 – Aneroid barometer

In addition, there are barometers that do not contain a liquid. They are known as
aneroid barometers. Figure 15.12 shows an aneroid barometer without a liquid. It
has a cavity bounded by thin metallic walls in which air has been evacuated. When
the pressure outside barometer varies, the shape of the walls of the cavity also
varies. An indicator attached to the cavity walls rotates with the variations of the
shape of the walls. The pressure can be read out from an attached scale.

Applications of the atmospheric pressure in daily life

(I) Drinking with the use of a straw

When we drink using a straw, we suck the air

inside the straw and that air enters the mouth,
reducing the pressure inside the straw. The
pressure at the liquid surface outside the
straw is at the atmospheric pressure while the
pressure inside the straw is less than the
atmospheric pressure. Therefore the
atmospheric pressure pushes the liquid in the
glass into the tube and the liquid moves up Figure 15.13 – Drinking with a straw
through the straw.

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(II) Removing the water in a tank using the
siphon method
A
Figure 15.14 illustrates the use of the siphon
method to draw water from the tank A
situated at a higher level to the tank B
situated at a lower level. Initially, the tube
has to be filled with water and one end
pressed with a finger so that water does not
flow out and then the tube should be
lowered down to of A. Thereafter, when B
the finger is removed, water starts to flow
Figure 15.14 – Syphon
to tank B from tank A.
method
The pressure at the end of the tube in A
is equal to the sum of the pressures due to the water column in A above the
end of the tube and the atmospheric pressure. Since the end of the tube in B
is exposed to the atmosphere, the pressure there is equal to the atmospheric
pressure. Therefore, the higher pressure in tank A, pushes the water to the other
end of the tube at tank B which has a lower pressure.

(III) Action of the rubber sucker

When a rubber sucker is pressed Atmospheric pressure

onto a glass surface as shown in
Figure 15.15, most of the air
between the two surfaces is
removed leaving only a little air
in between the sucker and the
glass surface. Then, since the
pressure inside the rubber sucker
is less than the atmospheric
pressure outside, the sucker is
held pressed to the surface by the Figure 15.15 – Rubber sucker
atmospheric pressure. The rubber
sucker would function properly
only if there is no air flow between the edge of the sucker and the glass surface.

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Example
(1) The atmospheric pressure at sea level is 76 cm Hg. Taking the density of
mercury as 13600 kg m-3 acceleration due to gravity as 10 m s-2.

(i) find the atmospheric pressure in Pascals.

(ii) find the height of a water column that can be balanced by the atmospheric
pressure. (Density of water is 1000 kg m-3).
Answer

¸' Atmospheric pressure = h × ρ × g

P = (76 / 100 m ) × (13600 kg m-3) × (10 m s-2)
= 103 360 Pa

¸¸' If the height of the water column is h,

hρg = 103360
h × 1000 × 10 = 103360
h = 103360 / 10000
h = 10.3360 m
15.4 Floatation

We know that when we put a stone into a vessel containing water, it would sink
while something like a piece of wood would float. Let us investigate what scientific
principles lie behind the reasons for some objects to sink in water while some
objects to float.

Upthrust

When we press an object that floats on water, such as a plank of wood on a water
surface, we experience a force exerted by the water acting upwards. Even for an
object that sinks in water, the weight that we feel when it is in water is less than
its weight in air. This is becuase water exerts an upward force on objects that are
immersed in water. This upward force is known as the upthrust. Not only water,
any fluid exerts an upthrust on objects that are immersed or upthrust exerts on
floating bodies too in that fluid.

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 Activity 15.3

• Suspend a piece of metal on a spring balance as shown in Figure 15.16 (a) and
measure its weight.

Spring
balance

Piece of
metal

Figure 15.16 – Illustrating the upthrust

• Now exert a downward force on the piece of metal as shown in Figure 15.16 (b).
Read the corresponding reading on the spring balance. It would be seen that
the spring balance reading has increased as a downward force has acted. then,
exert an upward force on the piece of metal as shown in Figure 15.16 (c) and
read the spring balance reading. It is obvious that the spring balance reading
would decrease as an additional force was exerted upwards. This shows clearly
that a downward force acting on the object would increase the spring balance
reading while an upward force would decrease the spring balance reading.

• Now immerse the object in water as shown in figure 15.16 (d) and read the
spring balance reading. You will observe that the spring balance reading has
decreased. According to the explanation given regarding the figure (c), the
spring balance reading decreases when an upward force is acting on the object.
Therefore, this confirms that an object immersed in a liquid (fluid) experiences
an upward thrust exerted by the liquid.

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 Activity 15.4
• Get a cubic shaped piece of metal and mark by a line where its volume is
divided into two equal parts.
• Now hang it on a spring balance and measure its weight in air.
• Get a beaker and measure its weight.
• Now submerge the metal cube in water to each of the levels indicated by the
figures 15.17(a), (b), (c) and (d) and record the spring balance readings and
the weight of the beaker together with the displaced water each time.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 15.17 – Set-up for measuring the upthrust

Complete the table given below using your measurements.

Spring
Weight of beaker
balance
Stage with displaced
reading
water (N)
(N)
(a) -Metal cube near the water surface
(b) -Metal cube half submerged in water
(c) -Metal cube fully immersed in water and
near the water surface
(d) -Cube fully immersed in water and far from
the water surface

What conclusions can you draw from the above activity?

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Let us assume that thereadings taken by a pupil were as given below.

Spring balance Weight of beaker with

Stage
reading (N) displaced water (N)
(a) - Metal cube near the water surface 1.2 1.3
(b) - Metal cube half submerged in water 0.9 1.6
(c) - Metal cube fully immersed in water 0.6 1.9
and near the water surface
(d)- Cube fully immersed in water and 0.6 1.9
far from the water surface
The upward thrust and the weight of the displaced volume of water calculated from
the readings above are tabulated below.

Weight of dis-
Stage Upthrust (N) placed volume of
water (N)
(a) - Metal cube near the water surface 0 0
(b) - Metal cube half submerged in water 0.3 0.3
(c) - Metal cube fully immersed in water and 0.6 0.6
near the water surface
(d) - Cube fully immersed in water and far from 0.6 0.6
the water surface

The conclusion that can be drawn from the results shown in the table above is that
when the object is partially or fully submerged in water, the upward thrust acting on
the object is equal to the weight of the water displaced by the object. This is known
as the Archimedes’ principle as it was first introduced by the scientist Archimedes.

Archimedes’ Principle
When an object is partially or completely submerged in a fluid, the upthrust
acting on it is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

The figure 15.18 shows how three different objects A, B and C are submerged in
water.

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 Figure 15.18 - Three different objects placed in water
Object A is partially submerged and floating while object B is fully submerged and
floating. Object C is fully submerged and resting at the bottom of the container.
Can you think of the reason for this difference? Engage in the following activity in
order to understand it.

Activity 15.5
You will need three objects of different materials. One of them (A) should float
in water, partially submerged. Another one (B) should float on water, fully
submerged. Such an object could be obtained by filling an appropriate quantity
of sand into a bottle that could be properly closed. The third object (C) should
sink in water.

• Measure the weights of the three objects A, B and C.

• Now measure the apparent weights of the three objects while A is floating,
partially submerged, B is floating, fully submerged and C is sunk.

Figure 15.19 - Diagram for activity 15.5

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Tabulate the observations and readings in the table given below. Try to fully
submerge the floating object by applying an external force.

Is the object partially

Weight of the Apparent weight of submerged and floating? /
Object
object (N) object in water (N) fully submerged and floating?
/ sunk?
A
B
C

Fill the following table with relevant calculations.

How the object

Weight of the Upthrust on the
Object appeared in
object (N) object (N)
water
A
B
C

What conclusion can you draw from your results?

The following table shows the readings and observations made by a student. Let
us investigate the results he obtained.

Apparent weight Is the object partially submerged

Weight of the
Object of object in water and floating? /fully submerged and
object (N)
(N) floating? / sunk?
A 1.1 0 Floating
B 1.8 0 Fully submerged and floating
C 2.4 0.5 Sunk

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The corresponding calculations are shown in the table below.

How the object Weight of the object Upthrust on the

Object
appeared in water (N) object (N)
A Partially submerged 1.1 1.1
and floating
B Fully submerged and 1.8 1.8
floating
C Sunk 2.4 1.9

The results obtained from this activity are stated below.

The weight of the object that was partially submerged while floating and the weight
of the object that was fully submerged while floating are equal to the upthrust
exerted on the objects by water. The weight of the object that sank in water is
greater than the upthrust exerted on the object by water.

When a force acting vertically downwards is applied on the object A that was
partially submerged while floating, an additional force acting vertically upwards
can be experienced. This is because the upthrust is greater than the weight of
the object when the object is fully immersed in water giving rise to a resultant
force acting upwards. Therefore, when the external force was removed. the object
returns to the original position. That is, the object returns to the position where the
upthrust is equal to the weight of the object.

The conclusion that could be drawn from this is, that the weight of an object that is
partially or fully immersed in a fluid while floating is equal to the upthrust acting on
the object and the weight of an object that is fully sunk in the fluid is greater than
the upward thrust, the object sinks in the fluid.

That is,
If the upthrust acting on an object fully immersed in a fluid,
(a) is less than the weight of the object, the object sinks in the fluid.
(b) is equal the weight of the object, the object floats in the fluid while being fully
submerged in it.

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(c) is greater than the weight of the object, the object floats while partially
submerged in the fluid so that an upthrust equal to the weight of the object acts
on it.

Hydrometer

Hydrometers are used to measure the density of

Glass stem liquids and solutions. It is made of glass. It has a
and bulb cylindrical stem and a bulb as shown in the diagram.
Mercury or lead shots are found inside the bulb to
enable it to float vertically in the liquid .The liquid or
the solution is taken to a vessel and the hydrometer is
Scale put in to it. Then the density of the liquid or the
solution can be read directly by the scale given on the
hydrometer.
Hydrometer has been made in accordance with the
Archimedes' principle. The hydrometer immerses
Lead shots in the liquid to a height so as to displace a weight
equal to the weight of the hydrometer. The volume
of the liquid or the solution displaced is equal to the
volume of the immersed part of the hydrometer. As
a small volume of the liquid is displaced in a high density liquid, the hydrometer is
immersed to only small depth. But when it is put in a low density liquid it immerses
more because more liquid should displace, to produce the upthrust required to
balance it.

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 Exercise 15.2

(1) (i) The depth of a reservoir is 1.2 m. Calculate the pressure at the bottom of
the pond due to the water. (g = 10 m s-2, density of water = 1000 kg m-3)

(ii) Find the force exerted by the water on an area of 200 cm2 at the bottom of
the reservoir.

(2) (i) Describe a simple experiment to demonstrate that ‘the pressure in a liquid
increases with increasing depth’.

(ii) Write down a simple experiment to find out whether the pressure inside a
balloon is less than or greater than the atmospheric pressure.

(3) (i) The atmospheric pressure at the sea level is 76 cm Hg. How much is this
pressure in Pascals?

(ii) What is the height of a water column that exerts the same pressure as the
above pressure?

(4) (i) Write down Archimedes’ principle.

(ii) The weight of a piece of metal in air is 20 N. When it is completely

immersed in water, its apparent weight is 5 N.

(a) What is the upward thrust exerted on the piece of metal by water?
(b) What is the weight of the water displaced by the piece of metal when it
is completely immersed in water?

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 Summary
• Pressure is produced by liquids and gases as well as by solids.
• The pressure due to a liquid acts in every direction.
• The pressure due to a liquid increases as the depth (height of a column of
liquid) increases.
• The formula P = h ρ g is used to find the pressure due to a liquid column
where
h = height of the liquid column
ρ = density of the liquid
g = gravitational acceleration
• The space around the earth containing air is known as the atmosphere and
the pressure produced by atmospheric air is known as the atmospheric
pressure.
• The average value of the atmospheric pressure at the sea level is 76 cm Hg.
That is, the atmospheric pressure at the sea level is equal to the pressure
due to a mercury column of height 76 cm.
• In order to measure average value of the pressure, the mercury barometer
and the aneroid barometer are used.
• When an object is partially or completely submerged in a liquid, an
upthrust equal to the weight of the quantity of liquid displaced acts on the
object by the liquid.
• When an object is floating on a liquid, the weight of the displaced liquid
is equal to the weight of the object.

Technical Terms
Pressure - mSvkh - A•UP®
Hydraulic jack - øj mSvk celal=j - }›¯À E¯ºzv
Upthrust - Wvql=re f;rmqu - ÷©¾øu¨¦
Atmosphere - jdhqf.da,h - Áõ²©sh»®
Mercury barometer - riÈh jdhqmSvkudkh - Cµ\ £õµ©õÛ
Aneroid barometer - ks¾øj jdhqmSvkudkh - AÛöµõ´m £õµ©õÛ

85 For free distribution