UNDERSTANDING GAS

PRESSURE AND
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
 Learning objectives
• Explain gas pressure
• Explain atmospheric pressure
• Describe application of atmospheric
pressure
• Solve problem involving atmospheric
pressure and gas pressure
What is Gas Pressure

mu

Before collision

mv

After collision
Explanation through Kinetic Theory
• A gas molecules hit the wall of container with
a momentum mu.
• Collision causes the molecule to bounce back
with a momentum, mv.
• So, a change of momentum is produced.
• A change of momentum in a short period of
time will cause the impulsive force to produce.
• When the impulsive force, F acts on a small
area, A, so the pressure, P is produced
Let’s watch a
movie clip!!!
What can you observe from the movie
clip?

What are the forces that acting on

the piece of cardboard?

Why the water does not flow out

from the glass?
What is Atmospheric Pressure

The pressure exerted by the

atmosphere due to the
weight of air acting on the
surface of the Earth as well as
all objects on the Earth.
 If you moves upwards away
from the Earth surface, the air
gets thinner & thinner. How
does this affect the
atmospheric pressure?
Various Units of Atmospheric Pressure
How a Barometer
works ?

1 atmosphere = 760 mmHg

If,
h = 760 mm
density of mercury = 13600kgm-3,
1 atm = ___? ____Pa

P=ρhg

105 Pa = 1 Bar

Mercury Barometer
Instruments for measuring
Atmospheric Pressure

Aneroid Barometer

Fortin Barometer
 Manometer
Instruments for measuring
gas pressure

Gas pressure = Patm + Phg

Bourdon gauge
 Application of
Atmospheric Pressure
 EXAMPLE 1

The atmospheric pressure is 760 mm Hg

and the difference in the mercury level of
a manometer measuring the pressure of a
gas is 20 mm. What is the pressure of the
gas in mm Hg ?

SOLUTION:

Gas pressure
= Atmospheric pressure + 20 mm Hg
= 760 mm Hg + 20 mm Hg
= 780 mm Hg
 EXAMPLE 2

Calculate the total pressure

acting on the body of a diver at
a depth of 450 m underwater.
(Take density of sea water = 1200 kg m-3, g = 10 N kg-1
and atmospheric Pressure = 105 N m-2)

SOLUTION: Total pressure

= Atmospheric pressure + 450 m water
= 105 N m-2 + 450 (1200)(10) Nm-2
= 105 + 5400000
= 5500000 N m-2
Quick
Test
1. Observe the movie and explain the situati
on.
2. Figure shows mercury is connected to a
gas supplied. Calculate the pressure of
the gas supply in the unit of cmHg and
Pa.(density of mercury = 13600 kgm-3,
atmospheric pressure = 76cmHg)
 Answer: Question 1
Condensation of steam in the metal can causes
the pressure in it to decrease. Atmospheric
pressure which higher acts on outside of the can
and crushes it.
 Answer: Question 2

P Hg P gas