3.

3 UNDERSTANDING
GAS PRESSURE AND
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

Learning Outcome
Explain gas pressure
Explain atmospheric pressure
Describe the applications of atmospheric pressure
Solve problems involving atmospheric and gas pressure
Otto von Guericke
 Idea of gas Pressure
KINETIC THEORY OF GAS
 Gas Pressure
• Billions of air molecules inside
the balloon moves in random motion.
• Air molecules collide with the inner
wall of the balloon.
• Force is exerted on the surface
results in air pressure in the balloon.

Force Air pressure is the force

Pr essure  exerted on a surface by air
Area molecules per unit area of the
surface
 Idea of atmospheric Pressure
Hands-on activity 3.4 pg 57
Aim : To study the existence of atmospheric
and gas pressure
 Activity 1. Hot water in a plastic bottle.
 Activity 2. Cardboard on the mouth of an
inverted glass.
 Activity 3. Pulling two intact sink pump.
 Activity 4. Removing water using straw.

Can you explain each of the observation ?

 Atmospheric Pressure
. . . . . .
. . .
. . . . .
.
. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . .
.. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . .. . .
. . . . ... . .
. . . . . .
.. . . . .
. . . ..
. ... . . .... ....... . .... . . . . .. .. . . . . . .
.. . .... .. .. . . .. .... .. . . ... . .... .
. ... . . . .
... .
. .. ........ ... . ....
. . . . . . . .
. .
.
 Atmospheric Pressure
Force Atmospheric pressure is the
Pr essure  force exerted on the Earth’s
Area surface by air molecules of the
atmosphere per unit area of the
surface
Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude.
Reason :
1. At a higher altitude, the density of the air is lower.
2. At a higher altitude, the temperature of the air is
lower, hence less collisions.
INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
 Barometer
b. Fortin barometer
a. Aneroid barometer

It can be used as
an altimeter
INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING
GAS PRESSURE
 Bourdon Gauge  Manometer

mercury

Gas pressure
= atmospheric pressure
+ pressure due to h cm
of mercury
 VARIOUS UNITS OF
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
760 mm Hg
 760 mm Hg
76 cm Hg
 Standard Atmospheric
1 atm. pressure (1 atmosphere)
 0.76x 13600 x 10 Pa
105 Pa
= 103360 Pa
105 N m-2 = 103360 N m-2
 = 1.0336 x 105 Pa
1 bar of
pressure Mercury barometer = 1.0336 bar of pressure
10 m At sea level,  10.336 m water
water h = 760 mm
Worked Example pg 90

The reading of a mercury barometer at a

meteorological station is 745 mm mercury. What
is the value of the atmospheric pressure at the
meteorological station in pascal ?
(Density of mercury = 13 600 kg m-3)
hg
solution
Atmospheric pressure = 745 mm Hg
= 0.745 x 13 600 x 10
= 101 320 Pa
 Worked Example pg 90

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
 Worked Example Exploring pg 173

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
 APPLICATIONS OF
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
Drinking Straw Rubber Sucker

Syringe Siphon
 APPLICATIONS OF
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
Vacuum Cleaner Lift Pump

Pouring milk
from can

Lifting big piece of

glass (pg 90)
 EVALUATION

1. If 10 cm3 of
mercury is added
into the bowl, what
happen to the
h = 76 mm
value of h ?
A > 76 mm
B < 76 mm
C 76 mm
 EVALUATION

2. A barometer is placed in an A P
region where the atmospheric
B P and Q
pressure is 76 mm Hg. Which
of the diagrams shows the C Q and R
correct level of the mercury. D P, Q and R
P Q R
vapour

h = 76 mm
h = 76 mm
h > 76 mm
 EVALUATION

3. Figure shows a soft toy hung on a suction cup.

The soft toy does not fall to

the floor because the
pressure in
A P>Q
B P=Q
C P<Q
D Q=0
 Home work

Mastery practice 3.3

text book pg 91

Check your progress 3.3

Exploring pg 179