12/27/2021

Pressure

Grade 9: Physics

Agenda
Longman Physics (p. 109 - 115)

•Pressure: define & calculate

•Density & upthrust in a fluid

•Hydraulic machines: force multiplier

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Pressure
Pressure is the force per unit area exerted on an object.

force
pressure =
area

Pressure is measured in newtons per square metre (N/m2),

which is also called Pascals (Pa).

Which pair of shoes exert more pressure?

The shoes with flat soles The soles of the high-

spread the person’s weight heeled boots have a
over a large surface area, smaller surface area,
creating a low pressure. creating a high pressure.

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Pressure in Fluids
Liquids and gases are both called fluids because they are both
capable of flowing. Pressure in fluids acts in all directions.

Pressure in Gas
Pressure in gases is caused by particles colliding with the
walls of the container.
Each particle hits the wall which
produces a force on that given
area (pressure)

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How can you increase the pressure in a gas?

INCREASE THE DECREASE THE

TEMPERATURE VOLUME

Pressure in Liquid
Pressure increases with depth. In other words, the further
away from the water’s surface, the greater the pushing force.
This is the reason dams are thicker at
the bottom. There’s more pressure
down there!

low
pressure

high
pressure

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What is Upthrust?
Upthrust is a force that pushes upwards on an object
submerged in a fluid. It is always in the opposite direction to
the object's weight.

An object in a fluid will always displace some of the fluid....

If the density of the object

is greater than the density
of the fluid, the object can
never displace enough
fluid to create an upthrust
that will hold its weight
up, so it sinks.

Do you remember what density is?

Think back to our chemistry lesson
‘states of matter’...

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Density
Density is the mass per unit volume of an object.

The symbol ρ is the Greek letter rho

– it is pronounced ‘row’.

If upthrust is
equal to the
weight of the
object, the object
will float.
If upthrust is less
than the weight
of the object, the
object will sink.

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Both the sponge and piece of wood float on water, but the
metal sinks. Why is this?
The sponge is less The wood is less The metal is more
dense than water. dense than water. dense than water.
Upthrust is balanced Upthrust is Upthrust is less than
with the weight of balanced with the the weight of the
the sponge. weight of the wood. metal.

As the sponge soaks

up more water, its
density increases and
it eventually sinks.

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Hydraulics
Hydraulic systems use the
idea that liquids can't be
compressed, so the pressure
created in the liquid is equal
throughout.
All hydraulic systems use
two pistons linked via a pipe
carrying hydraulic fluid.

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Hydraulics: Lift Tool (jack)

Using a hydraulic
Driver presses down on
jack, a small force
jack handle here
can be multiplied
to lift a heavy car

Pressure = F ÷ A Force = P x A
= 30 ÷ 0.2 = 150 x 1.0
= 150 N/m2 = 150 N

The pressure, 150 N/m2, will be the

same everywhere in the system.

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When Physics Meets Biology

Can you think of pressure involving

fluids and the human body?

That's right, the

respiratory &
circulatory system

As we breathe in, the diaphragm flattens, which increases the

volume in the lungs, decreasing the pressure.

As we breathe out, the diaphragm moves up, which decreases

the volume in the lungs, increasing the pressure.

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