10-04-C01

Grade 10 Physics
Chapter 4: PRESSURE
4.1 PRESSURE

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1. Pressure, density and specific gravity are important
quantities in physics and pressure is the basic of
hydrostatics and hydrodynamics.
2. The study of fluids at rest is called hydrostatics and the
study of fluids at motion is hydrodynamics.
Pressure: Pressure is defined as the force exerted
normally on unit area.
force
pressure 
area
F
p  , where p = pressure, F = force, A = area.
A
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3. In the SI units, pressure is measured in 'pascal' (Pa).

4. 1 Pa= 1 N m-2.

5. The force in the pressure formula must be normal

(90) , to the surface.

6. Pressure is a scalar quantity.

7. From the definition of pressure, it is obtained that

pointed nails penetrate the surfaces because for a
definite force, the exerted area is too small.

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8. Similarly, sharp knives cut more easily than blunt
knives because of smaller cutting area.

9. Elephants have four large flat feet, so they reduce the

pressure, and less likely sink into the ground.

10. Most obvious is tractors used for ploughing has large

tire areas so that they do not sink in the muddy fields.

11. Pressure is applied in many scientific fields and many

units are used although they have the same meaning.

12. In FPS system, the unit of pressure is pound per

square inch (psi).
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13. In Meteorology, the unit of pressure is hectopascal (hPa).

14. Standard Atmospheric Pressure is 1 atmosphere (1atm).

15. The relation between different units of pressure are;

1 atm = 1.013  105 Pa

= 760 millimetre mercury (760 mm Hg)

1 atm = 1 013 hPa = 1 013 millibar (1 013 mb)

1 hPa = 100 Pa = 1 mb

1 Pa = 1.45  10-4 lb in-2 (psi)

1 psi = 6.90  103 Pa

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