Paper 2 Answers (Pressure)

Section A
1 (a)
(Sorry, this qn may be from the old syllabus. Still if you understand proportionality, it
is entirely possible for you to solve this)
Answer:
Assuming Temperature is constant,
P1V1 = P2V2
(1 x 105) (10 x 150) = P2 (1200)
P2 = 125 000 Pa

1 (b)
My knowledge: Since Volume remains constant, Pressure is directly proportional to
Temperature. If Temperature increases, Pressure will increase as well at a constant
rate.
BUT remember that this is in the case where the number of molecules remains
constant. The number of molecules does NOT remain constant here based on the
phrase more air is pumped.
ALSO, they want you to explain this in terms of molecules. So please explain using
the concept of the Kinetic Model of Matter (KMM). How do you know you are
explaining using the concept of KMM? As long as your explanation contains the idea
of molecules, you are using the concept of KMM.
Answer:
Since the volume remains the same, the distance between the walls of the
inner tube remains constant.
As more air is pumped into the inner tube, more molecules are forced into
the closed container.
The particles are in constant and random motion. The particles move at
high speeds.
As the density of molecules increases, the frequency of collisions between
the particles and the walls of the inner tube will increase.
Since collisions exert a force on the container, the increased frequency of
collisions increases the pressure exerted against the walls of the inner tube.

2 (a) Pressure is the force exerted per unit area (of contact).
2 (b) Pressure in sealed container = 1 x 105 + (1000)(10)(60/100)
 = 106 000 Pa
2 (c)
My knowledge: Since Volume and number of molecules remain constant, Pressure is
directly proportional to Temperature. If Temperature increases, Pressure will
increase as well at a constant rate.
BUT, they want you to explain this in terms of molecules. So please explain using
the concept of the Kinetic Model of Matter (KMM). How do you know you are
explaining using the concept of KMM? As long as your explanation contains the idea
of molecules, you are using the concept of KMM.
Answer:
Since the volume remains the same, the distance between the walls of the
inner tube remains constant.
The particles are in constant and random motion. The particles move at
high speeds.
However, the temperature increases, it implies that the particles gain
kinetic energy. Hence, the molecules move with greater speed.
This increases the force and frequency of the collisions between the
molecules and the walls of the container.
This increases the pressure exerted on the container.

3 (a) (i)
1. Force that oil exerts on piston P,

Force on P due to oil = Pressure in oil x Cross-sectional Area of piston P

= 3 x 105 x 5 x 10-5
= 15 N

2. Force that atmosphere exerts on piston P,

Force on P due to atmosphere = Atmospheric pressure x Cross-

sectional area of piston P
= 1 x 105 x 5 x 10-5
= 5.0 N
 3. Value of F.
Since the Piston is in equilibrium, force F makes up for the difference in
the forces.
F = 15 5 = 10 N
3 (a) (ii)
According to Pascals Principle, the pressure is transmitted throughout the
enclosed oil. Since Piston Q has a larger cross-sectional area compared to
Piston P, the Force applied at piston Q is much larger than the Force applied at
Piston P. Since Force exerted at R = Force exerted at Q, the force exerted on
the metal plate at R is larger than F.
3 (b) (i)
My knowledge: Since Temperature & number of molecules remain constant,
Pressure is INVERSELY proportional to Volume. If Volume decreases, Pressure will
increase.
BUT, they want you to explain this in terms of molecules. So please explain using
the concept of the Kinetic Model of Matter (KMM).
Answer:
The particles are in constant and random motion. The particles move at
high speeds.
Since the Temperature remains the same, the average kinetic energy (and
hence average speed) of each molecule remains the same. This means that
the force of molecule-wall collisions remains the same.
However, as the gas bubble is compressed, the volume of the bubble
decreases. This decreases the average distance between the walls of the
bubble.
This decreases the average time taken for the molecule to collide against
the inner walls of the bubble, increasing the frequency of collisions.
As the molecules exert a force on the walls of the bubble with each
collision, the increase in frequency of collisions increase the pressure
exerted on the inner walls of the air bubble.
3 (b) (ii)
Some of the work done on the piston is used to compress the air bubble. This
makes the transmission of pressure throughout the liquid less efficient.
Section B
1 (a)

Apparatus: Boiling tube, Beaker

h = the height of the mercury column
Pressure of atmosphere = Pressure of Mercury column
= density of mercury x gravitational field strength x h

1 (b) (iii)
My knowledge: Since Volume and number of molecules remain constant, Pressure is
directly proportional to Temperature. If Pressure decreases, its because
Temperature has decreased.
Using KMM,
The air molecules are in constant and random motion (moving at high
speeds).
The air loses thermal energy to the surroundings, causing its temperature
to decrease.
This implies that the average kinetic energy of molecules (and hence speed)
has decreased.
This reduces the force and frequency of the collisions between the
molecules and the walls of the cylinder, thus decreasing the pressure
within the cylinder.
2 (a)
Pressure in gas bubble = 1 x 105 + (1000)(10)(30)
= 400 000 Pa
2 (b)

400

300

200

100

0 10 20 30

2 (c)
Pressure due to a fluid is directly proportional to the density of the fluid. Since
the density of water is much more than that of air, the pressure exerted due to
a depth of 30 m of water will be much greater than 30 m of air.