Content standard Learning standard

2.1 Pressure in Liquids Communicate about the concept of pressure in liquids (P = h g)

Experiment to investigate factors affecting pressure in liquids
Solve problems involving pressure in liquids
Communicate about applications of pressure in liquids in daily life
2.2 Atmospheric Describe atmospheric pressure
Pressure Communicate about the value of atmospheric pressure
Solve problems in daily life involving various pressure units
Describe the effects of atmospheric pressure on objects at high altitude
and underwater
2.3 Gas Pressure Determine gas pressure using a manometer
Solve problems involving gas pressure in daily life
2.4 Describe the principle of pressure transmission in an enclosed fluid
Communicate about hydraulic system as a force multiplier

2.5 Describe the relationship between buoyant force and the difference in
Principles liquid pressure at different depths for a submerged object
Relate the balance of forces with the state of floatation of an object in a
fluid
Communicate about applications of Archimedes
Solve problems involving principle and buoyancy
2.6 Describe the effect of fluid velocity on pressure
Explain lift as a result of the difference in pressure due to different
velocity of fluids
Communicate about applications of principle in daily life

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2.1 Liquid pressure

P = Liquid pressure, Pa h
h = Depth of the liquid, m
-3

g = Gravitational acceleration (9.81 ms-2)

Exercise

1. If the fish is 20 cm from the base of the aquarium,

calculate the liquid pressure exerted on the fish.
(Density of water = 1000 kgm-3)
50 cm

2. Calculate the depth at which 3.5 x 105 Pa of liquid pressure is exerted on a submarine.
(Density of seawater = 1029 kgm-3)

Factors affecting liquid pressure

Pressure depends on depth, density of liquid and gravitational acceleration (refer to formula)

P h : when depth is deeper, pressure is higher and vice versa

P : when density is higher, pressure is higher and vice versa

Exercise
3. 4.
A A B
B

Fresh water Sea water

Which one has higher pressure Which one has higher pressure acting on it?
acting on it? Explain your answer. Explain your answer.

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Exercise (cont.)

5. Compare the liquid pressure

acting on the fish. Explain
your answer.

A B C D

6. State what will happen to water level in P and Q when thistle funnel is placed inside a beaker filled
with water.

P Q P Q

Points at the Point

same level have the same pressure.

A B C D E F

PA = PB PC = P D PE = P F
hA Ag = hB Bg hC Cg = hD Dg h E Eg = h F Fg

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Exercise
1. Given that the density of liquid A is 2. Given that the density of liquid A and B are
200 kgm-3. Calculate density of 100 kgm-3 and 300 kgm-3 respectively. Find h.
liquid B.

A B A B
20 cm 15 cm
15 cm h

3. Compare density of liquid C and D

C D

Actual pressure

Actual pressure = liquid pressure + atmospheric pressure

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Exercise
1. Given that the density of sea water is 1020 kgm-3 and atmospheric
pressure is 1.0 x 105 Pa. Calculate;
a. liquid pressure exerted on the diver. 15 m
b. actual pressure exerted on the diver.

Application of liquid pressure

Water tank IV liquid bag

Water tank is located higher IV bag is located higher

Difference in height between tap and Difference in height between IV bag and
tank allow for high liquid pressure
Water flows out when tap is turned on

Dam Siphon

Wall at the base is thicker to withstand Water flowing out of siphon at C creates low
higher water pressure pressure at B
Penstock is placed lower so that water Atmospheric pressure pushes water into
can flow faster to turn the turbine tube through A

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2.2 Atmospheric pressure

Pressure due to the weight of the layer of air acting on the surface of the Earth.
Can be measured using mercury barometer, Fortin barometer and Aneroid barometer.

Mercury barometer

vacuum

h Height of mercury column when at sea level is 760mm.

The higher the atmospheric pressure, the higher the h
Patm Patm
value and vice versa.

mercury

Aneroid barometer vs Fortin barometer

Change in volume of Change in height of

partial-vacuum metal box mercury column

Small and portable Large and not portable

Longer time to give a

Gives direct reading
reading

Lower accuracy Higher accuracy

± 1 mmHg ± 0.1 mmHg

Aneroid barometer Fortin barometer

Units for pressure

Pa mmHg m H20 mbar

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Atmospheric pressure at high altitude
A
Density of air at A < B
Atmospheric pressure, PA < PB

B
Effects on human at higher altitude
(textbook page 54)

Adaptations and actions to be taken

(textbook page 54)

Mountain climber Aircraft

High pressure below sea level

When depth increase, liquid pressure increase

10 m H2O = 1 atm
Total pressure = Water pressure + atmospheric pressure

Effects on human at extreme depth

under water (textbook page 55)

Adaptations and actions to be taken

(textbook page 55)

Divers Submarine

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Exercise

1. What is the atmospheric pressure measured by the mercury barometer?

Give your answer in cmHg and Pa.
mercury= 1.36 x 104 kgm-3

h = 76 cm

2. Height of mercury column in a mercury barometer at sea level is 76cm. What will happen to the
height of liquid inside the column if;
a. barometer is carried up a mountain (above sea level)? Explain your answer.
b. barometer is carried below sea level? Explain your answer

3. Height of mercury column in a mercury barometer at sea level is 76cm. What will happen to the
height of liquid inside the column if;
a. mercury is changed to water? Explain your answer.
b. the vacuum space is filled with air. Explain your answer.

4. A diver is 15m underwater. Given that the density of water is 1000 kgm-3.
a. State the liquid pressure exerted on the diver in m H2O.
b. State the liquid pressure exerted on the diver in S.I unit for pressure.
15 m

5. A submarine is 50m underwater. Given that the atmospheric

pressure is 10 m H2O.
a. State the liquid pressure exerted on the submarine in m H2O.
b. State the total pressure exerted on the submarine in m H2O.

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2.3 Gas pressure
Can be measured using manometer

Before connected to gas supply After connected to gas supply

Patm Point Patm Point Patm

Gas

Pgas
Ph

A B

Pgas = Patm + PL
Exercise

1.
Point A compressed gas is connected to a
mercury manometer. Calculate:
Gas
a. difference between gas pressure and
atmospheric in cm Hg
b. gas pressure in cm Hg
c. gas pressure in Pa

12 cm (Patm = 76 cm Hg, mercury = 1.36 x 10

4 kgm-3)

2.
Point A compressed gas is connected to a
mercury manometer.
Gas
a. If the gas pressure is 85cm Hg, what is
the value of h?
b. What will happen to the value of h if
mercury is replaced with water?
(Patm = 76 cm Hg, mercury = 1.36 x 104 kgm-3.
h -3
H20 = 1000 kgm )

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Another formula for pressure
P = Pressure, Pa

F = Force, N
A = Area, m2

Pressure applied on an enclosed fluid is transmitted uniformly in all directions in the fluid
Hydraulic system uses liquid to transmit pressure
Hydraulic system can act as force multiplier

F1 F2
Input piston Output piston

A1 A2
Multiplying
Hydraulic fluid
factor

P1 = P2. P2
P1 is transmitted acts on liquid F2 acts
F1 applied P1 produced uniformly throughout on the
on input on liquid surface A2 at
the hydraulic fluid to the output output
piston surface A1 the output piston piston
piston

(Refer to textbook page 63)

Large piston
Handle

Small
piston
Hydraulic brakes Hydraulic
fluid
Release valve
Valves

Image source: http://m.brake-cylinder.com/

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Exercise

1. a. Compare pressure at A and B.

100 N b. Calculate the multiplying factor.
c. Calculate F at output piston.

A B
0.5m2 2.5m2

Hydraulic fluid

2. Diagram shows a hydraulic system that is

balanced (equilibrium) when load X and Y are X Y
placed on piston A and B respectively. Given
area of piston A is three times bigger than B and
weight of X is 30 N. Calculate the weight of Y. A B

Hydraulic fluid

3. To be able to produce larger output force, what modification can be done on the;
a. surface area of the input piston
b. surface area of the output piston
c. force applied on the input piston

4. The hydraulic fluid used for the jack contains

some air bubbles. Explain the effect of the
Large piston Handle presence of the bubbles on the efficiency of
the jack.
Small
piston Hydraulic
fluid

Air bubbles

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 Object which is partially or fully immersed in a fluid will experience a buoyant force equal to the
weight of fluid displaced.
Buoyant force: Force acting upwards on an object immersed in a liquid when there is pressure
difference between the lower surface and upper surface of the object.

Volume of liquid displaced = Volume of submerged objects

50 cm3 of liquid displaced = 50cm3 of object submerged
50cm3 Weight of liquid displaced = Buoyant force
2N weight of liquid displaced = 2N buoyant force

Apparent weight = Real weight buoyant force

3N = 5N 2N
50cm3

Formula for buoyant force, FB

FB = Buoyant force, N
-3

v = Volume of liquid displaced, m3

g = Gravitational acceleration, 9.81ms-2

Example

An cube with length 0.1m is immersed in the liquid as shown.

Given that the density of the liquid is 100kgm-3.
3N a. Calculate volume of liquid displaced by the object?
0.1 x 0.1 x 0.1 = 1x10-3m3 (because volume of water
displaced is equal to the volume of object submerged)

b. Calculate buoyant force acting on the object.

v used is 1 10-3m3 because volume of water displaced is

equal to the volume of object submerged.

c. Calculate the real weight of the object.

Apparent weight = Real weight buoyant force
3 = Real weight -
Real weight = 3.981N

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State of floatation of an object in a fluid

W = FB W > FB W < FB
(balanced force) (unbalanced force) (unbalanced force)

Acceleration and
resultant force
Stationary and
upwards
resultant
force is zero Acceleration and
resultant force
downwards

Example

1.

A ship is floating on sea. The volume of the ship submerged is

200m3. Given the density of sea water is 1029kgm-3.

a. Calculate buoyant force acting on the ship by sea water.

b. What is the weight of the ship? Explain your answer.

When the object is floating, the forces are in equilibrium.
Weight of the ship is equal to the buoyant force, W=FB.

2. If the mass of the object is 10kg, what is the buoyant force

acting on it by the liquid?
W=mg W=10(9.81) 98.1N
When the object is floating, the forces are in equilibrium. Weight of the
object is equal to the buoyant force, W=FB.
Buoyant force is 98.1N.

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Exercise

1. An abandoned sampan floats on the surface of the sea.

If the mass of the sampan is 150kg and the density of
sea water is 1029 kgm-3, calculate the following.
a. Weight of the sampan.
b. Buoyant force acting on the sampan.
c. Assumption you did to answer (b).
d. Volume of the sampan immersed in water.

2. Diagram shows an iceberg floating in water. Read the statements

below and state whether they are true or false. Explain your answer.

a. Weight of iceberg is equal to buoyant force acting on it.

b. Volume of iceberg is equal to the volume of water displaced.

c. Weight of iceberg acts downwards, buoyant force acts upwards.

d. Weight of water displaced is larger than weight of iceberg.

3.
a. A block is fully immersed in the liquid as
Spring balance shown. The reading of its apparent weight is
200N. Given that the density of the liquid is
70kgm-3 and volume of the block is 0.5m3.
Calculate its real weight.
200N XN

b. The block is now pulled up until only half of

its volume is immersed in the liquid. What is
the new reading on the weighing balance?

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 Hydrometer

A < B
A hydrometer is an instrument measure the density of liquids
When stationary;
Weight of liquid displaced = weight of the hydrometer.
In a less dense liquid, a larger section of the hydrometer is
immersed in the liquid to displace a larger volume of liquid,
and vice versa.
Liquid A Liquid B

Submarine

Submarine floats
Weight of submarine = buoyant force
To make submarine dives deeper, water is
pumped into ballast tank. Water in
ballast tank
Weight of submarine > buoyant force
To make submarine rises higher, water is pumped
out of ballast tank.
Weight of submarine < buoyant force

Hot air balloon

Valve

Valve is closed
Burner is ignited, air heats up
Volume of balloon increase
Surrounding air is displaced,
producing buoyant force
Weight balloon < buoyant force
Valve is opened
Burner is turned off, air is released
Volume of balloon decreasing
Less air displaced, smaller buoyant force
Weight balloon > buoyant force

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 When the velocity of a fluid increases, the pressure in the fluid decreases and vice versa.
V P V P
Demonstrating relationship between velocity and pressure of liquid using Venturi tube. Smaller
tube will cause water to move at higher velocity.

Velocity of water is the lowest A B C Velocity of water is the highest

Water pressure is the highest Water pressure is the lowest
Water in column A is highest Water in column B is lowest

From water tap X Y Z

Lift force
Lift force is produced from the difference in pressure caused by the flow of air at different velocities.

Higher air velocity

Lift force acting on ping pong ball

Higher air velocity above the ball

produces a region of low pressure.
Difference in pressure produces a Low pressure region
resultant force upwards.
Ball is lifted up. High pressure region
F
Lower air velocity

Production of lift force by the aerofoil

Air flows at higher velocity at the top and lower

Higher air velocity velocity at the bottom.
Region of lower pressure is created at the top and
region of higher pressure created at the bottom.
Difference in pressure produces a lift force acting
upwards on the aeroplane.
When the aerofoil is at a certain angle of attack, the
Lower air velocity aerofoil exerts a force on the air flow.
Reaction force will act on the wing of the aeroplane
and contribute to the lift force.

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 lives (cont.)

Production of a downforce for racing cars

Lower air velocity

Air flows at lower velocity at the top and higher
velocity at the bottom.
Region of higher pressure is created at the top and
region of lower pressure created at the bottom.
Difference in pressure produces a downward force
Higher air velocity
acting on the car, making it more stable.

Mixture of gas and air in Bunsen burner

Gas flows into burner at high velocity

Region of low pressure is created
Difference in pressure causes air outside to be sucked in
Air drawn in
Air mixes with the gas producing flame
Gas enters at
high velocity

Curved path of a football

Spinning ball causes the surrounding air to move.

At X, direction of air is in the opposite direction X
of the spin of the ball.
Air in X has lower velocity, air pressure is higher.
At Y, direction of the air is same as the direction
of the spin of the ball.
Air in Y has higher velocity, air pressure is lower. Y
Air curved towards Y.

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Exercise

1. The roof was lifted off in a storm because

there was strong winds. Explain how the
strong winds cause the roof to be lifted off.

2. Mark the water level in the column when

Air flow
high speed air flows at the top.

3. For safety reasons, passengers are

advised to stand behind the yellow line.
Explain why.

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