.

PRESSURE IN SOLIDS
1. Define pressure and state its SI units

2. Ploughing tractors have very wide tyres. Explain why. (2mk)

3. What is the reason why a trailer carrying heavy loads have many wheels?

4. A student wearing sharp pointed heeled stiletto shoes is likely to damage a

soft wooden floor. Explain. (2mk)

5. A block of dimension 0.2m by 0.1m by 5cm has a mass of 500g and rests
on a flat surface. Determine the least pressure that can be exerted by the
block on the surface.

6. A box of mass 720kg is placed on a table. If the area of contact in the table is
1.8m2. Calculate the pressure it exerts on the table.

7. A metallic block of mass 50kg exerts a pressure of 10N/m2 on the surface.

Determine the area of contact between the block and the surface.

8. A block measuring 20cm by 10cm by 4cm rests on a flat surface. The block
has a weight of 6N. Determine:
i) The minimum pressure it exerts on the surface. (2 mk)
ii) The density of the block in kg/m3 (3mk)

9. A block of mass 60kg measures 6cm by 5cm by 4cm. Calculate

i) The maximum pressure it can exert.
ii) The minimum pressure.

10. A man of mass 80kg exerts a pressure of 200,000Pa on the ground while
standing on both feet.
i) Calculate the area of each foot.

ii) How much pressure would be exert if he stands on one foot.

11. a) A woman wearing shoes with sharp pointed heels exerts more pressure
than an elephant. Explain? (1mks)

b) If the weight of the woman is 600N and her heel have an area of
1.0cm2 each and the elephant has a weight of 30,500N and each feet
has an area of 730cm2, Calculate by how much more the woman exerts
pressure on the ground than the elephant

12. A pick – up carrying stones weighs 20,000N. The weight is evenly spread
across the four tyres. The area of contact of each tire with the ground is
0.025m2. Calculate the pressure exerted by each tire on the ground.

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 1
 13. A pickup of mass 2000kg has four similar tyres. If the pressure exerted by
each tyre on the ground is 500,000N/m2, calculate the area of each tyre in
contact with the ground.

14. The total weight of a car with passengers is 30,000N. The area of contact of
each of the FOUR tyres with the ground is 0.015m2. Determine the
minimum car tyre pressure.

10cm
60cm
30cm
The figure below shows a box of mass 360kg that measures 60cm by 30cm by 10cm.

(i) Calculate the Maximum pressure it can exert. (3mk)

(ii) Minimum pressure it can exert. (3mk)

15. The figure below shows a block of wood plank of mass 600kg and dimension
0.5m by 0.2m by 0.3m
0.3m
0.2m
0.5m

Calculate
i) The density of the plank. (3mk)
ii) The weight of the plank. (1mk
iii) The minimum pressure it can exert. (3mk)

PRESSURE IN LIQUIDS
1. Name two factors that affect pressure in fluids. (2mks)

2. State two true facts about pressure in liquids. (2mk)

3. Other than the density and the depth, state any other factor that affects
the pressure of a fluid. (1mk)

4. Water is filled in a tall container with holes A, B and C first closed. Indicate on
the diagram how the water jets out from the respective holes when the
holes are opened. (2mk)

A
2
B
C

5. With an appropriate reason, Identify the suitable cross- sectional shape of

a dam wall (2mk)
Water
Water
Wall
(A)
(B)

Wall:……………………………………………………………………………………………
Reason:……………………………………………………………………………………………

6. With an appropriate reason, Identify the suitable cross- sectional shape of

a dam wall 2mks)
(A)
(B)

Wall:
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Reason:
……………………………………………………………………………………………
7. Which of the points A and B in the figure below will experience the
greatest pressure given that the height of the liquid in the two containers
is the same? Explain (2mk)
h
A
B

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 3
Pressure
h
Water
Thistle funnel.
The diagram below shows a set up used by a student to show variation of pressure in a
liquid.

State and explain the effect on the height, h, when the thistle funnel is
moved upwards towards the surface of the liquid. (2mk)

8. Water dams are built with thicker walls at the bottom than at the top.
Explain why.

(2mk)

9. Water tanks in houses are erected as high as possible. Explain. (1 mk)

10. Explain why a hole in a ship near the surface is less dangerous than one
near the bottom.

11. A drum which is 2m high contains water to a depth of 0.5 m and oil of
density 0.5g/cm3 extends to the top. Find the pressure exerted at the
bottom of drum by the two liquids.

12. The reading of mercury barometer is at 70.0cm. What is the pressure at

the place in N/m2. {Assume density of mercury is 1.36 x 104 kg/m3}

(3mk)
13. A submarine is 30m below sea water of density 1g/cm3. if the
atmospheric pressure at the place is equivalent to 760mmHg. Find the
total pressure acting on the submarine (Take density of mercury
=13600kg/m3) (4mk)

14. A submarine is 40m below sea water of density 1020 kg/m3. If the
atmospheric pressure at the place is 103,000Pa, calculate the total
pressure acting on the submarine. (4mk)

15. A submarine is 20m below sea water of density 1000 kg/m3. If the
atmospheric pressure at the place is 102,000Pa, calculate the total
pressure acting on the submarine.

4
 16.A boy is swimming 25m below water level of density 1g/cm3. The atmospheric
pressure at this place is equivalent to 72cmHg. Calculate the total
pressure on his body in N/m2 (take ρ for mercury = 13600kg)

17. A water tank of height 4.8m is ¾ full. Determine the force exerted on a
thin metal plate resting flat at the bottom of the bottom of the tank if the
plate has an area of 2cm2. The density of water is 1000kg/m3 and the
atmospheric pressure =104,000 Pa

44
18. A water tank of height 6m is
55
full. Determine the force exerted on a
thin metal plate resting flat at the bottom of the bottom of the tank if the
plate has an area of 0.5m2. Take acceleration due to gravity, g =
10m/s2, the density of water to be 1000kg/m3 and the atmospheric
pressure P=100,000 Pa (3mks)

19. The height of mercury column in a barometer is found to be 76cm at a

certain place. What would be the height on a water barometer in the
same place? (Density of water is 1000kg/m3 and density of mercury is
13600kg/m3).

20. The height of mercury column in a barometer, at a place is 64cm. What

would be the height of a column of paraffin in the barometer at the same
place? (take density of mercury =13600kgm-3 and density of paraffin =
800 kg /m3).

21. A hole of diameter 1.0mm is made in the side of a water pipe. If the
pressure of the flow is maintained at 3.0 x 106 Nm-2, calculate the force
with which the water jets out of the hole. (3mk)

22. A hole of area 200mm2 at the bottom of a tank 4.0m deep is closed with
a cork. Determine the force due to water (Density of water is
1000kg/m3, and acceleration due to gravity is 10m/s2

23. The figure below shows a conical flask 15cm high, filled with a liquid of
density 1200kg/m3. The atmospheric pressure of the surrounding is
84,000Pa. determine the pressure at the point marked X at the bottom of
the flask. (4mk)
Point X

15 cm

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 5
 24. A cube of side 12cm is completely immersed in a liquid of density
800kgm-3 so that the top surface of the cube is horizontal and 20cm
below the surface of the liquid as shown in the figure below.
20cm
12cm

Calculate the pressure due to the liquid on the cube.

i) At a depth of 20cm (2mks)
ii) At a depth of 32cm (2mks)
iii) Hence calculate the force due to the pressure difference between the top
surface and the bottom of the cube (3mk)

2.8m
Hole
The figure below shows a cylindrical can filled with a liquid of density 0.8 gcm-3. A hole
of diameter 2.0 cm is drilled at a depth of 2.8 m from the top of the can.

Determine:
(i) The cross-sectional area of the hole. (2mks)

(ii) The maximum pressure exerted by the liquid at the hole. (2mks)

(iii) The maximum force exerted on a jet of liquid through the hole. (2mks)

25.The figure below shows a tank of height 5m filled with water and oil which are
immiscible. Water has a height of 2m and a density of 1000kg/m3 while
oil has a height of 3m and a density of 600kg/m3 as shown below. If the
atm pressure at the place is 100,000Pa, calculate the total pressure
exerted at the base of the tank.
2m
3m
Oil
Water

6
 26.The figure below shows a tank of height 7m filled with ethanol and oil which are
immiscible. Ethanol has a height of 4m and a density of 0.8g/cm3 while
oil has a density of 0.6g/cm3 as shown below. Calculate the pressure
exerted at the base of the tank by the two liquids
4m
Oil
Ethanol

HYDRAULIC MACHINES
1. State the Pascal’s principle.

2. Name two properties of a suitable hydraulic fluid

3. Give a reason why air is not commonly used as the fluid in a hydraulic lift. (1mk)

4. Explain why brakes fail in a hydraulic brake system when air gets in to the system.
(2mk)
5. Explain why a liquid and not a gas must be used as the ‘fluid’ in a hydraulic
machine. (1mk)
6. The area of larger piston of a hydraulic press is 4m and that of the other piston is
2

0.05m2. A force of 100m is applied on the smaller piston. How much force is
produced on the larger piston?

7. The areas of the piston of the smaller and larger pistons of a Hydraulic press are
4cm2 and 480cm2. Calculate the force applied on the smaller piston to raise
a load of 8400N on the larger piston.

8. In a hydraulic machine, the pistons of two connected cylinders have radius of

10cm and 100cm respectively. A force of 400N is applied on the smaller
piston. Calculate the force on the larger piston.
9. Figure shows a hydraulic press system. A force of 200N is applied at the small
piston.
Liquid
Area = 180cm2
2

A Bale
200 N
50 cm2

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 7
 (i) State the principle on which the system operates.
(ii) Calculate the weight of the Bale supported by the large piston (3mks)

10. Figure shows a hydraulic press system. A force of 60N is applied at the
Liquid
Area = 300cm2
2

A Bale
60 N
10 cm2
small piston. Calculate the weight of the Bale supported by the large piston.
(3mk)

11. The figure below shows a hydraulic brake system of a car. When a force of 200N is
applied on the master cylinder the slave piston experience a force of 8000N.
Calculate the area of the master cylinder.
Master piston
Brake pedal
Slave piston
400 cm2

12. The figure below shows two cylinders of different cross-sectional areas
connected with a tube. The cylinders contain an incompressible fluid and
are fitted with pistons of cross-sectional areas 4cm2 and 24cm2.
Area = 4cm2
P
Area = 24cm2

Q
Incompressible fluid

8
 Opposing forces P and Q are applied to the pistons such that the pistons do not
move. If the pressure of the smaller piston is 5 N cm-2. Determine force Q.(3mk)

13. The figure below shows a hydraulic brake system of a car. When a force of 400N is
applied on the master cylinder the slave piston experience a force of
35,000N. The master piston has an area of 8cm2
Master piston
Brake pedal
Slave piston

Calculate
(i) The area of the slave piston. (3mk)
(ii) The pressure exerted on the master piston. (3mk)
(iii) Name two reasons why oil is preferred to water as a hydraulic fluid
(iv)State the principle on which the system operates. (1 mk)
(2mk)

U-TUBE
1. The U-tube below is filled with water and paraffin as shown. If the density of water
is 1g/cm3.
40 cm
50cm
Water
Paraffin
B
A

(i) What can you say about the pressure at point A and B.? (1mk)
(ii) Calculate the density of paraffin

2. The figure below show a U-tube filled with two liquids, X and Y. Liquid X has a
density of 800Kg/m3 while Y has a density of 1200Kg/m3. Determine the
height h of liquid.
h
30 cm
X
Y

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 9
3. The U – tube below is filled with two liquids A and B. Liquid B has a density of
1.6g/cm3. Calculate the density of liquid A.
50cm
20cm
A
B

4. The U – tube below is filled with ethanol and mercury. Ethanol has a density of
0.8g/cm3. Calculate the density of liquid mercury.
4cm
68 cm
Ethanol
Mercury

Mercury
80cm
h
Oil
Water
The figure below show a U-tube filled with water and oil of densities 1000Kg/m3 and
600Kg/m3 respectively. Determine the height h of liquid.

40 cm
X
Blew here

10
Mutunga blew in to one end of a U-tube manometer as shown below and the liquid X
rose up on the other end by 40cm. If the atmospheric pressure at the place is 103,000
Pa and the density of liquid X is 1200kg/m3, calculate the pressure of his lungs

5. The figure below shows a U – tube containing two liquids L1 and L2 of densities
0.8g/cm3 and 1.8g/cm3 respectively in equilibrium. Given that h2= 16cm
determine h1 (4mk)
L2

L1
h2

h1

6. The figure below shows an open-ended manometer connected to a gas supply.

Mercury
Gas supply
100mm

If the mercury barometer reads 760mm, calculate the pressure of gas in the
cylinder (density of water = 1g/cm3, density of mercury = 13.6g/cm3) (3mks)

7. The figure below shows a water manometer used to measure the pressure of a
cooking gas. Calculate the pressure of the gas? (atm pressure = 1.0 x 105 Pa
Density of liquid L = 900g/cm³). (3mk)
Gas supply
Liquid L

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 11
60cm

8. The figure below shows a mercury manometer of density 13,600kg/m3.

Mercury
Gas supply
40mm

If the atm pressure is 760mmHg, calculate.

(i) The pressure of gas in mmHg. (2mk)
(ii) The pressure of gas in N/m2. (3mk)

9. Use the Fig below to answer the questions that follow.

Gas in
Mercury
56mm
A
B

i) What pressure is acting on point A? (1mk)

ii) What is the value of pressure difference in the instrument reading.
(1mk)
iii) If the atmospheric pressure is 760mmHg. What is the value of gas pressure?
(2mks)

10. The figure below shows a water manometer used to measure the pressure of a
cooking gas. By how much is pressure of the gas above atmosphere pressure?
(Density of mercury = 13.6g / cm³). (3mk)
Gas supply
Mercury
60cm
40cm

12
11. The fig below shows air trapped in a J shaped tube. What is the pressure exerted
on the trapped air? ( Density of mercury 13600Kg/m3 atmospheric pressure is
1.0 x 105 pa) Give your answer in Pascal (2mks)
Mercury
80cm
Trapped air

13. The figure below shows some air trapped by mercury in a glass tube. The tube is
inverted in a dish containing mercury.
Trapped air
Mercury
600 mmHg

Given that the atmospheric pressure is 760 mmHg and the height of mercury column in
the tube is 600mm, determine the pressure of the trapped air
(i) The pressure of the trapped air in mmHg.
(ii) The pressure of the trapped air in Pascal

12. If the atmospheric pressure is 760mmHg. Calculate the pressure in Pascal’s of the
trapped air in the tube shown below. (Density of mercury = 13.6g / cm³).
(3mk)
Mercury
300mm
60mm
Trapped air

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 13
13. The figure below shows an open and closed tube manometer connected at
different times, to same gas cylinder. Assuming no loss in pressure from the gas
cylinder, calculate the value of h (Take atmospheric pressure =1.0×105Pa ,
density of mercury =13600kg/m3 and acceleration due to gravity
=10N/kg ) (3mks)

20cm
Open manometer
Gas cylinder
Closed manometer
Gas cylinder
h
Vacuum

14. The figure below shows Hare’s apparatus used for comparing liquid densities.
Suck
Water
30cm
25 cm
Liquid X

Calculate the density of liquid X given that density of water is 1000kgm-3.(2mk)

Tap
Liquid A
24cm
20 cm
Liquid B

14
Figure 3 shows the levels of two liquids A and B after some air has been sucked out of
the tubes through the tap. If the density of liquid B is 1.2g/cm3 , find the density of
liquid A

15. The figure below shows a U – tube containing two liquids L1 and L2 of densities
0.8g/cm3 and 0.5g/cm3 respectively floating on a water surface. If the system
is in equilibrium, determine the ratio h1: h2 (3mks)
L2

L1
Water
h2

h1

HEIGHT OF MOUNTAIN
1. The barometric height in a town is 65cmHg. Given that the standard atmospheric
pressure is 76cmHg and the density of mercury is 13600kg/m3, determine the altitude of
the town. (Take density of air = 1.25kg/m3) (3mks

2. A mountain climber with a mercury barometer discovered that the readings of the
barometer at the bottom and top of a certain mountain were 750mmHg and
520mmHg respectively. Given that the density of air between the bottom and top
of the mountain is uniform and equal to 1.25 Kg/m3, estimate the height of the
mountain. (Take the density of mercury to be 1.36 x 104 Kg/m3) (3mk)

3. The height of mercury column in a barometer is found to be 67cm at a certain

place. What would be the height on a water barometer in the same place.
(Density of water is 1000kg/m3 and density of mercury is 13600kg/m3).
( 3mk)
4. The height of mercury column in a barometer density 13600kg/ m -3, at a place is
64cm. What would be the height of a column of paraffin in barometer at the
same place. (Density of paraffin = 8.0 x 102 kg /m3). (3mks)

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 15
5. The barometric height at sea level is 76cm of mercury while that at a point on a
highland is 74cm of mercury. What is the altitude of the point? Take g =
10m/s2, density of mercury = 13600 Kg/m3 and density of air as 1.25Kg/m3.
(3mk)

ATM PRESSURE
1. Define the term atmospheric pressure and give its SI units (2mk)
2. Explain why it may not be possible to suck a liquid into your mouth using drinking
straw on the surface of the moon. (1mk)
3. A barometer was taken from Mount Kenya to Mombasa .Explain the change in
mercury level in the barometer. (2mk)

4. A glass is filled with water to the brim and a cardboard placed on top. The glass is
then inverted as shown.
Glass
Cardboard
Water

Explain why the cardboard does not fall down.

5. The figure shows a rubber sucker.

Rubber sucker
Smooth surface

Explain why the sucker sticks on a smooth clean surface (2mk

6. Explain why a partially inflated balloon released at sea level would become fully
inflated at a higher altitude

7. Explain how a drinking straw is used to suck a liquid (3mk)

8. Give a reason why water is not a suitable liquid for use in a barometer
(1mk)

9. State one applications of atmospheric pressure.

(1mk)

10. Explain why high flying aircraft need to be airtight and have pressurized cabins for
people.

11. A tin-can is partially filled with water and heated so that the water boils for some
time. Explain what happens to the can when closed tightly and allowed to cool.

16
 (2mks)

12. In an experiment to demonstrate atmospheric pressure, a plastic bottle is partially

filled with hot water and the bottle is then tightly corked. After some time the
bottle starts to get deformed.
(i) State the purpose of the hot water. (1mk)

(ii) State the reason the bottle gets deformed (2mk)

(iii) Explain your answer in e (ii) (2mk)

Trapped air
Trapped water
Plastic bottle
AIR
The figure shows an inverted test tube which floats in water enclosed in a plastic bottle.

When the sides of the plastic bottle are squeezed, explain what would be
observed. (3 mks)

13. A simple barometer is steadily slanted from vertical position. What happens if
there is little air in the space above the mercury? (1mk)

Mercury
760mm
The figure below represents a mercury barometer at sea level..

(i) What is the name of the part labelled A? (1mk)

(ii) What will happen to the barometric height if the barometer is taken to a
place of higher altitude.? (1mk)

(iii) Give a reason for your answer in (ii) above. (1mk)

14. Explain why a ball point cover has a small hole

15. The liquid to be transferred has to be at a higher level than the other container
where it is being emptied.

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 17
16. Three identical tubes containing mercury were inverted as shown.
X

Mercury
760cm
A

(i) Indicate on the diagram above the levels of mercury in tube B and C.(1 mk)

(ii) Explain the effect on the level of mercury in tube A if region X is filled with
some air.

17. The figure below shows petrol being siphoned from container (a) to (b)
(b)
(a)
Tube
Water

State when the liquid will stop flowing through the pipe. Explain your answer.

18. (i) Indicate on the figure below, the direction of flow of the liquid. (1mk)
A
B

18
 ii) Explain what would happen to the flow of the system in the figure above if it
was put in a vacuum (2mks)

19. One of the applications of pressure in liquids and gases is the lift pump. The pump
is more effective in pumping water if the well is less than 10m at sea level.
Explain. (2mks)

20. Explain why;

(i) It is difficult to remove the lid from a preserving jar which was closed when the space
above the food was full of steam (2 mks)
(ii) A force pump must be used instead of a lift pump to raise water from a deep well
over 10m (2 mks)

21. The figure below shows a lift pump used to draw water from a borehole
Storage tank
Water
Piston
Barrel
Valve2
Valve1

(i) Describe briefly how the lift pump works in order to lift water from the borehole
(4mk)
(ii) State two advantages of a force pump over a lift pump (2mks)

22. The figure below shows a force pump used to draw water from a borehole
Chamber C
Water
Piston
Barrel
Valve2
Valve1

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 19
Pa
Pa

(i) Describe briefly how the force pump works in order to draw water from the
borehole (4mk)

(ii) State two advantages of a force pump over a lift pump

23. The figure below shows a force pump

100mm
Piston
Water
Valve V1
Valve V2

Explain how the water gets past valve V2 (2mks)

24. The table below shows valves of pressure P in fresh water at different depth.
Pressure P (kPa) 110 140 180 200 220

Depth h (m) 1 4 8 10 12.2

20
 (i) On the grid provided, plot a graph of pressure (y-axis) against depth (x-axis)
(5mk)

(ii) Given that the equation P = Pa + pgh, determine from the graph.

(iii) The value of Pa (1 mk)

SCHEEM
25. The figure shows an inverted test tube which floats in water enclosed in a plastic
bottle.
Trapped air
Trapped water
Plastic bottle
AIR

FORM 1: P R E S S U R E Pg 21
 When the sides of the plastic bottle are squeezed, explain what would be
observed. (3 mks)
ANS Test tube sink ;Pressure is increased on squeezing ; forcing more
water into the test tube the weight of the test tube and water exceeds
upthrust and sink ;

22