PHYSICS

FORM 4

Chapter 3

Forces & Pressure

Edited by In collaboration with

Cikgu Desikan Cikgu Khairul Anuar

SMK Changkat Beruas, Perak SMK Seri Mahkota, Kuantan
 Chapter 3
Forces & Pressure
Dear students,
What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.
~ Ralph Marston

Learning Objectives :
FORM 4 PHYSICS

1. Understanding pressure
2. Understanding pressure in liquids
3. Understanding gas pressure and atmospheric pressure
4. Applying Pascal’ s principle
5. Applying Archimedes’ principle
6. Understanding Bernoulli’s principle
2016

Analysis of Past Year Questions

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
P1 7 8 7 8 5 7 9 9
A 1 1 1 - - - 1 1
P2 B 1 - 1 1 - 1 - -
C - - - - 1 - 1 -
A - - 1 - 1 1 -
P3
B - 1 - - - - 1 1
 Chapter 3
Forces & Pressure
Dear students,
It always seems impossible until its done.
~ Nelson Mandela

Concept Map
Forces and Pressure

Matter

Solid Liquids Gases

Pressure Pressure Gas Atmospheric

Pressure Pressure

Pascal’s Archimedes Bernoulli’s

Principle Principle Principle

Applications of forces and pressure

3.1 Pressure

Pressure = ______________

SI unit :
Nm-2 = Pascal = Pa

PRESSURE
A↑ P↓
F
A P
Amax → P
Amin → P
A

4
A sharp knife has a very
small surface area on its
The studs on a football
cutting edge so that high
boot have only a small
pressure can be exerted
area of contact with the
to cut the vegetables.
ground. The high
pressure under the studs
Applications Involving gives extra grip.
High Pressure

Nails, needles and pins have

very sharp ends with very small
surface areas. When a force is
applied to the head of a nail, the
pressure will drive its sharp end
into a piece of wood easily.
5
 Application involving
Low Pressure
Reducing the pressure
by increasing the area

Skis have a large area to A tractor moving on soft

reduce the pressure on ground has wide tires to
the snow so that they do reduce the pressure on the
not sink in too far. ground so that they will not
A wide shoulder pad of a heavy
sink into the ground.
bag will reduce the pressure
exerted on the shoulder of the
person carrying the bag.

6
Exercise 3.1
1. A block of metal of dimensions 0.5 m x 0.6 m x 1.0 m has a
mass of 300 kg. Calculate

a) the maximum pressure acting on the ground

1.0 m

0.6 m
0.5 m

b) the minimum pressure acting on the ground.

7
2. A student pressing a thumbtack into a piece of wood
with a force of 20 N. The surface area of the head of
thumb
the thumbtack is 1 cm2 and the cross-sectional area
of the tip of the thumbtack is 0.01 cm2.
Calculate:
a) the pressure exerted by the student’s thumb on Head of
the head of the thumbtack thumbtack
b) the pressure of the tip of the thumbtack on the
wood
c) What conclusion can be drawn from your
answers to (a) and (b)?
Tip of thumbtack
wood

8
3.2 Pressure in Liquids
A liquid exerts pressure because of
its weight.
For example, if you try to put your
finger over the end of a tap when it
is turned on, you can feel the
pressure of the water in the pipe.
Characteristics of Pressure in a liquid.
• The pressure at any point in a liquid, at a particular
depth, acts equally in all directions.
• The pressure in a liquid does not depend on the area
of its surface.
• The pressure in a liquid does not depend on the
shape of the container.

Relate pressure in a liquid with

The pressure in a liquid is directly

The pressure in a proportional to the density of the liquid.
liquid is directly
proportional to the
depth. Holes at the
Water The pressure in a same height
liquid increases with
depth. Cooking Water
oil

9
Derive the formula for the pressure in a liquid.

The container on the left has a base area, A. It is

filled to a depth,h with a liquid of density, ρ.
Calculate:

Volume of liquid, V = Ah
Density, ρ Mass of liquid, m = ρV = ρAh
Depth, Weight of liquid, W = mg = ρAhg
h
Force on base, F = ρAhg

Pressure, P = F = ρAhg = ρhg

A A

Base Area, A
∴Pressure in liquid,

10
Exercise 3.2
1. If the density of sea water is 1150 kgm-3, calculate the pressure at a point 40m below sea level
due to the water alone.

2. The figure shows a cylinder containing mercury. What is the

pressure caused by the mercury at the point P?
[ Density of mercury is 1.36 x 104 kgm-3 ]

Mercury 0.8m
P
0.2m

11
 Dam
Dam holds water Submarine is built
at high altitude. with thick wall.
Reservoir
The wall of the Explain.
dam has to be
thicker at the base.
Explain.

Applications of
pressure in liquids

Water is stored in water A patient is injected a certain

tank at higher level. Explain. solution into his blood stream using
intra-venous. The bottle containing
the solution must be suspended
higher than injection side. Explain.

12
3.3 Gas Pressure And Atmospheric Pressure
Gas pressure

Atmospheric pressure
1. Atmospheric pressure is the pressure caused by the weight of air in the atmosphere which is
acting on all the objects on the Earth's surface.
2. Atmospheric pressure acts equally in all directions.
3. Due to the gravitational pull of the earth, the density of air in the atmosphere decreases with
altitude (height measured from sea level).
4. The higher the altitude from the sea level, the lesser the weight of air in the atmosphere causes
drop in the atmospheric pressure.
Activities to show existence of atmospheric pressure

1. Fill the glass to the top with water and wet rim slightly.
2. Lie the cardboard on the top of the glass.
3. Hold the card firmly in place and turn the glass over.
4. Take away your hand.

What will happen ?

Atmospheric pressure
13
1. Heat up a metal can containing water is until the water in
Steam
it vaporizes.
2. Allow the steam to exit from the mouth of the can.
3. Cap the can and cool down the tin with tap water. Water

What will happen? Why? Metal can

Air removed 1. When we suck through a straw, the air pressure in the
straw is lowered.
Atmospheric
2. The atmospheric pressure acting on the surface of the
pressure juice in the glass pushes the juice up the straw and into
our mouth.

Juice

14
Measuring atmospheric pressure by using Simple Fortin Barometer
1. The simple barometer Fortin is along glass tube that has been filled with mercury and the
inverted into a dish of mercury.
2. The mercury column rises or falls according to the pressure of air on the mercury in the dish.
3. The space above the mercury column is a vacuum so it exerts no pressure on the top of the
mercury column.
4. If the vertical height of the mercury is h cm ,therefore the atmospheric pressure reading is “ h cm
mercury ”.

Long glass tube Vacuum

Mercury 76 cm

Mercury
Dish

How does the height ,h of the Fortin barometer vary?

The height, h will remains unchanged when
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
15
The height, h will increases
1. when the barometer is slowly submerged in water.

The height, h will decreases when

1.
2.

Measuring gas pressure by using Bourdon Gauge

1. When the gas supply is connected to a Bourdon gauge, the pressure in the curved metallic
tube will try to straighten it.
2. Hence the pointer will rotate.
3. The magnitude of the gas pressure can be read off the scale of the gauge.

16
Measuring gas pressure by using manometer

Atmospheric Atmospheric Atmospheric

Pressure Pressure Pressure

h
h

Gas Gas Gas

Example 1
The figure shows a manometer containing
mercury is connected to a gas supply.
Calculate the pressure of the gas supply in the
units
(i) cm Hg 15 cm
(ii) Pa
[ Density of mercury = 1.36 x 104 kg m-3 and
Atmospheric pressure = 76 cm Hg ] Gas

17
3.4 Pascal’s Principle
Pascal’s Principle
When pressure is applied to an enclosed fluid, the ________________ will be
throughout the whole enclosed fluid.

Verify the Pascal’s Principle Glass sphere

When the piston is pushed into the glass sphere the
jet of water is shot out from the holes in the glass
sphere with the same speed.
Piston
This is because the pressure acting on the water is Water
transferred uniformly throughout the water.
Jet of water
Hydraulic system

F1 1. A small input force, F1 is applied to the small

F2
piston resulting in a large output force, F2 on
Input Output the output piston.
Piston A1 A2 Piston 2. Based on the Pascal’s Principle, the
d1
d2 pressure is transmitted uniformly in all
directions, P1 = P2 =F1/A1 = F2/A2.
Fluid
18
3. When incompressible fluid is moved through a hydraulic system, the volume through which
the input system moved must be the same as the volume through which the output system,
Hence, ______________
4. Hydraulic systems acts as a force multiplier. They multiply the input force by a certain factor
to gain a larger output force.
5. The magnitude of the force at the large piston depends on
1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________

Incompressible Must not contain any air bubbles.

fluid Existence of air bubbles will
reduce the efficiency of the system
Hydraulic as part of the applied force will be
Fluid used up to compress the air
bubbles.
Non corrosive

High boiling point

Important Formulas ***

19
Exercise 3.4
1. The figure shows a basic hydraulic system has 20N
small and large pistons with cross-sectional area
of 0.005 m2 and 0.1 m2 respectively. A force of Load
Small Large
20 N is applied to the small piston. Determine
Piston Piston
a) the pressure transmitted in the hydraulic fluid.
b) the mass of the load.
c) if the small piston is pushed down at a depth
Fluid
a 0.04 m, what is the distance moved by the
large piston.

20
2. The figure shows a hydraulic system with two F
pistons A and B, connected to a tube that contains 10N
oil. The area of pistons A and B is 5 cm2 and 50
cm2 respectively, and a force of 10 N is exerted on
piston A. A B
a) Calculate the pressure that is exerted by piston
A on the oil.
b) What is the pressure that is exerted by the oil Oil
on piston B? Explain your answer.
c) Calculate force F, if the friction of the piston can
be ignored.

21
Application of Pascal’s Principle

Hydraulic Jack
Pivot Load

Atmospheric
pressure Big
Small Piston
Piston

Valve Q Hydraulic
Reservoir
Oil
Valve P

Release Valve
1. When the small piston is lifted, hydraulic oil rushes in from the reservoir through the open valve
P. In the meantime, valve Q is closed. The cylinder connected to the small piston is filled with
hydraulic oil.
2. When the small piston is pressed downwards, the pressure produced is transferred onto the
hydraulic oil to the big piston. At the same time, valve P closes and valve Q opens.
3. A huge force is created depending on the area of the big piston. The, the lift on the big piston
exerted is locked in position.
4. With continues movement of small piston’s handle, the big piston is lifted higher and higher
until the desired height is reached.
5. When release valve opened, hydraulic oil from big cylinder returns to reservoir and the load
comes down. 22
Hydraulic Brake

1. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the small piston is pushed inward.
2. The pressure is transferred through the brake fluid (oil) from the master cylinder to the wheel
brake cylinders.
3. This pressure will push the brake shoes so that the brake pads into contact and rub against the
brake drum which made of metal.
4. The friction between the brake pads and brake drum will slow down and hence, stop the car.
5. When the brake pedal is released, the return spring will pull the brake shoes and brake pads
which in contact with the brake drum back to the their original positions. 23
Essay Question
24
1. Explain the necessary modifications so
that the chair in figure 1 is safe and
suitable for the use of adults, based on
following aspects :
Leg
i. size of the pistons
ii. material to house the liquid Big piston
iii. size of the seat Small
iv. type of liquid for the jack piston

Figure 1

Modification Explanation
3.5 Archimedes’ Principle
Buoyant force
An ________________________resulting from an object being ____________or ___________
immersed in a fluid.

Relationship between buoyant force with the actual weight and apparent weight
1. Buoyant force makes thing seem to be lighter.
2. The weight of an object in air is its actual weight
3. The weight measured when the object is
immersed in a fluid is its apparent weight. 25 N
4. The apparent weight loss of the object is due to
15 N
buoyant force.
5. When in water, the object experiences two
forces:
a) The actual weight which acts downwards
b) The buoyant force which acts upwards.
6. The buoyant force is equal to the apparent loss
in weight. Water
7. Buoyant force = actual weight – apparent weight displaced
25 – 15 = 10 N
8. The object displaces a volume of water. The Original
bigger the volume of the object immersed, the water
bigger the volume of the liquid displaced. level
9. Volume of liquid displaced = volume of the
submerged part of the object.
25
Relationship between buoyant force to the weight of the liquid displaced
1. Pour water slowly into a eureka can until it flows out from the spout.
2. Weigh an empty beaker and place it under the spout of the eureka can
3. Suspend a ball of plasticine at the hook of a spring balance by a string and weigh it in air.
4. Lower the plasticine into the eureka can until the plasticine is completely immersed in water.
Record the reading of the spring balance.
5. When there is no more water flowing out from the spout, weigh the beaker with water.

Spring
Weight of plasticine in air = x N (actual weight) balance
Weight of plasticine in water = y N (apparent weight)
Weight of the empty beaker = z N
Weight of the beaker and displaced water = w N Eureka
can

Buoyant force = Actual weight – Apparent weight

= N
Plasticine
Beaker
Weight of displaced water = N.
The result shows that the value of ( )=( )

Buoyant force = =

26
Archimedes’ Principle
When an object is fully or partially immersed in a fluid (a liquid or a gas) , the ___________
_______( upthrust force) on the object is _____________to the ______________of fluid
displaced by the object.

Buoyant Force

Weight of fluid displaced

From Archimedes’s Principle :

Buoyant Force = Weight of fluid displaced

=
=
Therefore, FB =

where FB = Buoyant Force or Upthrust

ρ = Density of fluid
V = Volume of fluid displaced or the volume of the object that immersed in the fluid
27
Exercise 3.5.1
1. An object is hung on a spring balance.
a) What is the buoyant force on the object in water?
b) What is the weight of water displaced by the object? 65 N
c) Determine the volume of water displaced by the object.
[Density of water =1000kgm-3] 30 N
d) What is the volume of the object?

2. A stone weights 2.5 N. When it is fully submerged in a liquid, its apparent weight is 2.2 N.
Calculate the density of liquid if its volume displaced by the stone is 25 cm 3 .

28
Buoyant Force and Flotation
Buoyant Force

State of
object as as
Condition Buoyant force Buoyant force Buoyant force
= Weight of > Weight of < Weight Weight
object object of object

Law of floatation A floating object displaces its own weight of fluid in which it floats

Based on Figure (a), (b) ,(c) and (d) write the equations in words to relate the forces acting on the
objects when the objects float and stationary. Buoyant Force
a) Buoyant Force b) c) Buoyant Force d)

Buoyant Force

Weight Weight

Weight Weight

29
Exercise 3.5.2
1. An object of mass 5 kg floats on the surface water. What is the upthrust experienced by the
object.

2. The figure shows a glass tube of mass 0.012 kg with uniform

Glass tube
diameter and cross-sectional area 4 x 10 - 4 m2 , and it is filled
with sand so that it is made vertical in a beaker containing
water.
[ Density of water is 1000 kg m-3 ]. Determine
(a) The upthrust Water
(b) The mass of sand in the glass tube. 0.08 m Sand

30
Applications of Archimedes Principle

Submarine
Buoyant Force
= Weight of
submarine Buoyant Force
Empty tank
= Weight of
submarine

Tank partially filled Buoyant Force

with water < Weight of
a) Float on sea surface
submarine

b) Float in sea surface Tank fully-filled

with water

c) Sinking

How does a submarine sink?

A submarine has a large balast tank, which is used to control its position and depth from the surface
of the sea. When the ballast tanks are filled with water, the buoyant force is smaller than the weight
of the submarine. The submarine sinks.

How does a submarine rises?

When the ballast tanks are filled with air (removed all water) , the buoyant force is larger than
the weight of the submarine. The submarine rises. 31
Hydrometer Density of acid in car
accumulator measured
using hydrometer
floats lower floats higher

Low density High density

liquid liquid

Hydrometer

Lead shots Car

battery
Hydrometer acid

• A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the relative

density of liquids such as milk or acid in accumulators.
• It consists of a tube with a bulb at one end. Lead shots are
placed in the bulb to enable the hydrometer floats vertically in
the liquid.
• In a liquid of lesser density, a larger volume of liquid must be
displaced by the hydrometer so that the buoyant force equals
to the weight. So the more the hydrometer is submerged.
• The hydrometer floats higher in a liquid of higher density.

32
Plimsoll line

© 2012 Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.

• The density of sea water varies with location.

• Plimsoll line marked on the body of the ship acts as a guide to ensure that a ship is loaded
within safe limits.
• A ship will be submerged deeper in fresh water because the density of fresh water is less than
the sea water.
• A ship must displace more water to obtain sufficient buoyant force to support its weight.
• A Ship with a maximum payload for voyage in sea water will sink if sailing in freshwater.

33
 Load
Load

Sea water River water

A boat will submerged deeper in the river. Why?

• The buoyant forces in the sea and in the river are the same. This is because the buoyant force is
equal to the weight of the boat which is unchanged.
• The density of fresh water is lower than sea water. The buoyant force of a floating boat is equal
to the weight of water displaced.
• The lower the density of the water, the larger the volume of water displaced.
• A boat must displace more river water to obtain sufficient buoyant force to support its weight.

Load

Sea water Sea water

 If extra weight is put into the boat, why will the boat float lower in the water?

34
Explain why a boat made of steel will float in water, but a block of steel will sink.
• A block of steel will displaced a small volume of water only. So the buoyant force acting on it is
smaller than its weight. Therefore it sinks.
• A ship floats on the surface of the sea because the volume of water displaced by the ship is
sufficiently
• large. The weight of water displaced is large so the buoyant force acting on the ship is also
greater. Weight of ship equal Buoyant force. Therefore it floats.
• Although a ship is constructed of metal, which has a larger density than water, its shape is
hollow so that the overall density of the ship is smaller than the sea water.
• As a result, the buoyant force acting on the ship is large enough to support its weight.

Hot Air Balloon

• A hot-air balloon displaces a large volume of air. The

buoyant force due to the surrounding air is equal the weight
of the air displaced.
• When buoyant force is greater than the total weight of the
balloon and load, the balloon will rise.
• When the total weight of the balloon is equal to the buoyant
force, it remains floating in the air.
• When buoyant force is smaller than the total weight of the
balloon and load, the balloon will descend.

35
Exercise 3.5.3

Diagram above shows a barge used to transport goods from fresh water port to the ship anchored
away from the seaside.

Using suitable physics concepts, explain the required modification needed in designing a barge that
can carry more and heavier goods, move faster and safe in fresh and salt water.

You can emphasize on the following aspects in your modification;

i. material used
ii. safety features
iii. shape and size of the barge
[10 marks]

36
 Modification Explanation

Aryabhata gave the world the digit “0” (Zero) for

which he became immortal. He was an intellectual
prodigy who could formulate the method of
calculating the motion of planets and predict the
time of. occurrence of eclipses. 
Aryabhatta
(476-550 A.D.)
37
3.6 Bernoulli’s Principle
Bernoulli’s principle

The pressure of a moving liquid ___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Activities to show Bernoulli’s Principle

1 1. When the air is blown up on the surface of a piece

of paper, it’s observed that the paper moves up.
Final position
2. This is because, as the air on top of paper moves
with high velocity, the air pressure above the
paper becomes low.
Blowing Air 3. Meanwhile, the air pressure at the bottom of the
Paper paper is higher than at the top.
4. The difference in pressure produces a lift that
pushes up the paper.
Origin position

38
2 1. When the air is blown harder through the
String straw, the two ping-pong balls come closer to
each other.
Ping-pong 2. This is because , as air moves at a very high
ball
velocity between the balls, a low pressure
region produced in between the two balls.
Straw 3. The atmospheric pressure is higher than air
pressure in between the two balls.
4. Difference in pressure produces a force which
Blowing Air pushes both ping-pong balls to come closer to
each other.

3 Blowing Air
1. When the air blows harder, the ball is not
falling down.
2. It is because the air moves at a very high
velocity between the balls and the wall of
the filter tunnel.
Ping-pong 3. Therefore, the pressure of the moving air at
Filter
ball this region decreases.
Funnel
4. The bottom of the ball has higher
atmospheric pressure which can hold the
ball from falling down.

Atmospheric
pressure
39
Mark the water level in the vertical tubes P,Q and R in the following figures.

a) d)

P Q R Air

Water
P Q R
b)
Water
P R
Q e)

Water

c)

Q P Q R

P R
Water
Water

*** Pressure of moving fluid at point R (end) always less than pressure at point P (initial). 40

A person who stands near a railway feels
like falling into it when suddenly a train
moves with a high speed passes him. It is
because the velocity of the air in front of
him increases. The pressure of the moving
air decreases as the speed of the air
increases (according to Bernoulli’s
Principle). The higher atmospheric
pressure behind pushes him forward.
Jet of air
Piston
Atmospheric
pressure
Insect poison liquid
When two speed bots move faster and closely
to each other, an accident may be occurred.
Why ?
Water moves at a very high velocity between the
boats. The pressure of the moving water
decreases as its speed increases (according to
Bernoulli’s Principle). The higher water pressure
on either side of the boats caused its closer to
each other. High Pressure
F
Applications of
Bernoulli’s Principle Fast moving
water
F Low Pressure
High Pressure
When the piston is pushed, air is forced out
through the narrow nozzle at a high speed. The
pressure of the moving air decreases as the
speed of the air increases (according to
Narrow Bernoulli’s Principle). The higher atmospheric
metalic pressure in the insect poison container will push
tube the insect poison liquid up through the narrow
metallic tube. The high speed jet of air will cause
the poison liquid to be sprayed out. 41
Aerofoil
Decreased pressure
Faster airflow
Aerofoil

Lift

Slower airflow
Increased pressure
1. The figure above shows the air flow around an aeroplane wing.
2. When a wing in the form of an aerofoil moves in air, the flow of air over the top travels faster
and creates a region of low pressure.
3. The flow of air below the wing is slower resulting in a region of higher pressure.
4. The difference between the pressures at the top and underside of the wing causes a net
upward force, called lift, which helps the plane to take-off.

5. Inverted aerofoil is used in racing cars to produce a downward force which helps to stabilize
the car at high speeds.

Other applications :

42