TOPIC: Force

Pressure
Objectives
You must be able to:
•Define pressure
•Calculate pressure
•Calculate pressure in fluids

Pressure.
Have you ever noticed the surface area of the feet of a water duck or the width of a racing
car tyre? If you look closely you will notice that both have a large surface area. This is how
they distribute their weight on their surfaces of contact. Their weight is distributed evenly
over a large area to reduce the pressure they exert of their contact surfaces.

What then is pressure?

Pressure is force per unit area.
Pressure = Force /Area

Pressure is measured in Pascal’s.

Calculate pressure.

1] What is the pressure o

n the ground if a force of 200N is applied to the ground using a wooden log of sides
50cm by 20cm
Pressure = 𝑓𝑜(200𝑁) 𝐴𝑅𝐸𝐴/ (0.5𝑚𝑥0.2)

Pressure = 200/0.01
= 20 000Pa
 2. A block of weight 500N is being pushed in a wheelbarrow, if an area of 0,4m2 of
the
wheel of the wheelbarrow is in contact with the ground, Find the pressure exerted
on the ground by the wheelbarrow.
Now use the format used in question to find pressure [3}.

3. If the force is not changing, what is the effect of increasing the surface area of
contact on the pressure exerted by an object?

Pressure in liquids

This section deals with the pressure exerted by liquids. If you once dived into deep
waters during swimming what was the feeling as you sunk deeper into waters? Was
there any change in pressure as you sunk deeper or when you moved closer the
surface. The answer to the question lies in the activity below:

Activity
Aim: to compare the pressure of liquids at different heights.
Apparatus
Long water container
Water
Pin
Method
1. Fill the container with water
2. Mark the container at 10cm intervals as shown on diagram.
3. Use pin to open holes at the marked points.
 4. Observe the length of the liquids column coming out of the containers

Pressure in liquids

Your results should show a pattern shown on this diagram

Use the results of this experiment to answer questions on the next objective.

The effect of depth on liquid pressure

You have noticed that height or depth can increase or reduce pressure of a liquid from the
activity above.
 Another important factor is density of the liquid, the larger the density of the liquid the
higher the pressure will be. Formulae for calculating pressure in liquids:
Pressure = density x Gravity X height

Force of gravity is always 10N unless stated otherwise.

Height should be in meters.
Density should be in kg/m3.

Activity
1 a) Now the density of a liquid column exerting a pressure of 200Pa if the liquid column is
1,5m height
b) On an overhead water tank, what is the best point to put the outlet pipe?
c) Give a reason for your answer in above. [2]
2. Find the pressure of a liquid column 50cm, if its density is 2kg/m3.