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6.

1 Air Pressure Learning objective : Understanding air pressure

Explain the existence of air pressure with reference to the Kinetic Theory Explain the factors affecting air pressure.

It is hard to pour out condensed milk from a tin can that has only one hole. Why does this happen?

Air Pressure

The milk that flows out causes a decrease in pressure inside the can. Thus, the higher air pressure from outside prevents the milk from coming out easily.

The Earth is surrounded by a thick layer of air called atmosphere. The air in the atmosphere presses on the surfaces of all objects. This is known as air pressure. There are many other ways to show the existence of air pressure:

A)

Air Pressure

B) Crushing a can:
i. ii.

Boil some water in a can to push the air out.

Close the can and pour some cold water over it.
The can will be crushed inwards. The steam in the can condenses and causes low pressure inside the can. The air pressure outside is greater and presses the can inwards.

iii. iv.

OR
i.

A soft drink can is filled with a small amount of water. The can is heated until the water in it boils.

ii.

iii.

Then, the can is removed from the flame and immediately inverted and lowered into water. The air pressure that acts in all directions produces a force that is large enough to crush an empty can.

iv.

C) Separating two suckers:


i.

Two similar rubber suckers are pushed together to force out the air trapped inside the suckers. It will be difficult to pull the two suckers apart. This shows that air pressure is pressing on the suckers with great force.

ii.

A gas consists of many particles which are far apart from each other. The particles move freely in all direction.

The particles continuously hit the walls of the container and bounce back.
A force is exerted by the particles on the walls of the container. This force produces a pressure on the wall of the container.

This model can be used to simulate the motion of air particles and show how air pressure is produced.

The polystyrene balls represent the air particles or molecules. When the motor-driven vibrator is switched on, the polystyrene balls move continuously in all directions. The polystyrene balls collide with each other and with the piston.
The force exerted by the collisions of the polystyrene balls with the piston causes the piston to float at a certain height.

The polystyrene balls simulate the air particles. When the particles continuously hit the wall of the container and bounce back, a force is exerted by the particles on the wall of the container. This force produces a pressure on the wall of the container.

Two factors that affect air pressure; Volume Temperature of air

Changing either of the factors can cause the air pressure to increase or decrease.

Factors That Affect Air Pressure


Factor Explanation

Volume Air pressure increase with decreasing volume of the container and produces a larger force.

As the volume decreases, the air particles move in a smaller space. As a result, more particles hit the wall of the container. Therefore, a high pressure acts on the wall of the container.
As the temperature increases, the air particles have more kinetic energy. More particles hit the wall of the container with greater force. Therefore, the pressure increase.

Temperature Air pressure increases as temperature of the gas increases

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