Pressure(part 1)

1. Pressure is defined as force per unit area

2. The SI unit for pressure is Pascal(Pa) or N/m2

3. The pressure exerted can be increased by

a) Increasing the force

b) Decreasing the contact area

4. Pressure due to liquids is calculated by the formula

5. Pressure in liquids acts in all directions and at right angles to the surface. That is why the liquid
flows out at an angle of 90 degree to the surface if it is punctured with a hole

6. Pressure in a liquid increases with depth. The symbol h is for depth of the liquid

7. Atmospheric pressure is caused due to the molecules of gas in the atmosphere which collide and
exert a force resulting in pressure.

8. Atmospheric pressure reduces with altitude as the density of air reduces

9. Atmospheric pressure is measured using a device called a barometer. In a barometer the

atmospheric pressure is equal to the pressure due to height of the liquid column
10. If atmospheric pressure increases, the height of the mercury column in the tube increases

11. Since the pressure on the surface of the liquid due to atmosphere is equal to the pressure at the
same level in the liquid column thus we can calculate atmosphereic pressure as being equal to

Patm = phg

12. A manometer is used to measure pressure difference. Pressure difference between gas in a
container and atmospheric pressure can be determined using a manometer

13. One end of the manometer is connected to a container of gas and the other is open to the
atmosphere. The difference between the atmospheric pressure and the pressure in the
container can be determined as follows

Pgas + pgh = Patm

Therefore
Pdiff = Patm – Pgas = pgh