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CIE IGCSE Physics (0625) Pressure Notes PDF Pressure Pressure Measurement 11
CIE IGCSE Physics (0625) Pressure Notes PDF Pressure Pressure Measurement 11
CIE IGCSE Physics (0625) Pressure Notes PDF Pressure Pressure Measurement 11
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IGCSE Physics – Unit 6: Pressure 1
Core
6.2 Gas Pressure, Properties & Measurement
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Describe the simple mercury barometer and its use in measuring atmospheric pressure.
Use and describe the use of a manometer.
Describe qualitatively the pressure of a gas in terms of the motion of its molecules.
Did you
findqualitatively
Describe this document
the effect ofuseful?
a change of temperature on the pressure of a gas at constant V.
Relate the change in volume of a gas to change in pressure applied to the gas at constant T.
Describe qualitatively the effect of a change of temperature on the volume of a gas at constant p.
Extended
Recall and use the equation pV = constant at constant temperature.
Is this content[pinappropriate?
6.1 Pressure 83 – 85] Report this Document
Pressure (p) is defined as the force (F ) acting per unit area ( A).
Pressure is a measure of how 'spread out' a force is and the following formula is used to calculate
it:
F
p =
A
Examples: Stand on the floor on one leg the pressure exerted on the one foot is greater than the
pressure exerted when you stand on two feet.
Stand on your toes the pressure exerted on your toes is greater than when standing on two feet.
Stand on a stone your weight is exerted on a smaller area the pressure exerted is greater.
Stand on a drawing pin the area is very small on which the forces is exerted pressure is great
pain!
An 80 kg man stands on the ground on an area of 0.033 m2 . Another 160 kg man stands on the
ground on the s ame area. Compare the pressure exerted by each.
p of 80 kg man = F/A = (80 x 10)/0.033 = 24 000 N/m2 or 24 kPa.
p of 160 kg man = F/A = (160 x 10)/0.033 = 48 000 N/m2 or 48 kPa.
The bigger the force exerted on the same area, the bigger the pressure.
Work ed examples
a) What pressure on the snow does a snowmobile make if it has a weight of 800 N and the
runners have an area of 0.2 m2 ?
p = F/A = 800 / 0.2 = 4 000 Pa (4 kPa)
b) Find the area that a 30 kg parcel is in contact with the ground, given that it exerts a pressure
of 600 Pa.
A = F / p = (30 x 10) / 600 = 0.5 m2
A fluid with greater density will exert a greater pressure than another fluid even when at the same
depth. The pressure is larger because there is more mass of the fluid at this depth due to its
higher density, creating a greater gravity force pushing on the same area, thus greater pressure.
Change or difference in pressure between any two points of the fluid can be calculated by the
following equation:
p = h g
d) Which of the above will damage a wooden floor that starts to yield at a pressure of
4 000 kPa?
4. The pressure exerted by the atmosphere is 100 kPa. What force acts on an area of 25 m2 ?
5. The mass of a car is 1100 kg. What is the pressure exerted on the ground if the area in contact
with each tyre is 275 cm2 ?
6. Explain why a person can lie horizontally on a bed of nails without the nails piercing his skin?
b) What is the difference between the smallest and the greatest pressure that the block
can exert on a flat surface.
9. A car of weight 12 000N stands on level ground. The pressure on each of its four identical tyres
is 300 kPa. What is the area of contact between each tyre and the ground?
10. What is the pressure 100 m below the surface of seawater of density 1150 kg/m3?
11. The pressure gauge on a submarine in a river was reading 100 kPa when it was at the
surface. The submarine dived and a sailor noticed that the gauge was then reading 250 kPa.
Density of river water = 1000 kg/m 3.
a) How deep is the submarine?
b) How would the answer change if the submarine were diving in seawater that is slightly
denser than the fresh river water?
12. The pressure exerted by a column of oil of density 780 kg/m3, is 2 500 Pa.
Calculate the length of the column of oil.
13. Explain: a) why the bottom of a dam wall is thicker than the top of the wall.
b) how the liquid in a drinking glass is able to move up the straw into a person's mouth.
*15. Read up about how a hydraulic machine works and then try the next two questions
(NOT part of IGCSE course, but a very important and useful concept).
In a hydraulic press a force of 20 N is applied to a piston of area 0.20 m 2 . The area of the other
piston is 2.0 m2 . Determine:
a) the pressure transmitted through the liquid
*16. a) Why must a liquid and not a gas be used as the fluid in a hydraulic machine?
6.2 Gas Pressure, Properties & Measurement [p 86, 87, 133 – 138]
Gases, like liquids, exert a pressure on any object immersed in them. The pressure is caused
by the tiny, rapidly moving gas molecules (400 - 500 m/s) bombarding the object.
A gas exerts pressure in ALL directions. A gas exerts pressure because the gas particles are in
constant, random motion the gas particles have kinetic energy and collide continuously with the
walls of the container they exert a force on the walls of the container.
The pressure caused by the air (approx. 20 km high) above the Earth's surface is called
atmospheric pressure.
Measuring Pressure
Atmospheric pressure can be measured using a barometer :
(i) In a mercury barometer atmospheric pressure supports a
column of mercury in a tall, sealed tube. The space at the
top of the tube is a vacuum (zero pressure). Atmospheric
pressure pushes down on the mercury in the reservoir,
which in turn pushes mercury up the tube until the pressure
of the column of mercury balances the atmospheric pressure.
atm. p = h(column)(mercury)g
(ii) A manometer can be used to compare pressures and is used to measure the pressure
difference between two regions.
It consists of a U-tube of liquid that is displaced when
the pressures at each end of the tube are different.
The liquid moves until the pressure difference is
balanced by the difference in height of the ends of
liquid. The greater the pressure, the greater the
difference in height.
The pressure difference ( p) is calculated using
p = h(column)(liquid)g
Worked example:
The manometer on an industrial machine shows the oil
is being pushed towards the machine and the height
difference, h, is 20 cm.
What is the pressure inside the machine if the pressure
outside is 100 kPa? The oil has a density of 800 kg/m 3.
machine
p difference = h(column)(liquid)g = 0.2 x 800 x 10
= 1 600 Pa = 1.6 kPa 20 cm
Pressure inside the machine must be lower than
atmospheric pressure, because the "oil is being
pushed towards the machine".
Therefore the pressure inside the machine
= 100 - 1.6 = 98.4 kPa
If the volume is halved, then the number of collisions per second with the walls and piston will
double and hence the pressure will double.
Hence, the pressure of an enclosed gas is inversely proportional to the volume, provided the
temperature of the gas remains constant. This relationship between pressure and volume was
discovered in 1662 by Robert Boyle is known as Boyle's Law.
Hence, a fixed amount of gas in a sealed container at constant temperature obeys the following
equation:
p V = constant p = pressure of gas (in N/m2 or Pa)
V = volume of gas (in m3 )
The constant will be a constant for a particular sample of gas in a particular container.
initial values of an experiment p 1 V 1 = constant and
final values of the experiment p2 V 2 = same constant value.
p1 V 1 = constant = p2 V 2 or p1 V 1 = p1 V 2
[Remember this equation only applies if the temperature remains cons tant
]
Work ed examples
1. What will be the final pressure of 500 cm3 of air at 100 000 Pa if it is squashed to one fifth of its
original volume slowly so that the temperature remains the same?
p1 x V 1 = p2 x V 2
100 000 x 500 = p2 x 100
p2 = (100 000 x 500)/100 = 500 000 Pa (500 kPa)
[OR the V decreased by 5 the pressure increases by 5 new p = 5 x 100 000 = 500 000 Pa]
2. A bicycle pump contains 400 cm3 of air at atmospheric pressure. If the air is compressed slowly,
keeping the temperature constant, what is the pressure when the volume of the air is
compressed to 125 cm 5 ?
p1 V 1 = p2 V 2
100 x 400 = p2 x 125
p2 = 40 000 / 125 = 320 000 Pa = 320 kPa
2 cm
d) What would happen to this reading if the barometer were taken up a very high mountain
Give a reason for your answer.
e) Calculate the length of the column of mercury at standard atmospheric pressure of 101 kPa?
Density of mercury = 13546 kg/m3. Use g = 9.81 m/s2.
3. Calculate the pressure of the water 100 m below the surface of the sea (density = 1150 kg/m3 )?
4. Why is it not a good idea to use water as the fluid in a barometer to measure atmospheric
pressure? (Hint: Calculate the length of the column of water at standard atmospheric pressure.
Density of water = 1000 kg/m3.
5. A thin-walled plastic bottle is sealed and contains dry air at atmospheric pressure.
a) Explain how the molecules of air inside the bottle exert a pressure on the walls.
b) Ice is placed inside the bottle, and the bottle is then sealed again. The temperature of the
air inside the bottle falls and the bottle becomes partially crushed. Explain, in terms of the
molecules of air inside and outside the bottle, why this happens.
6. The diagram below shows a water manometer used to measure the pressure inside a gas pipe.
a) State whether the pressure inside the gas pipe in Fig. 1 is larger than or smaller than
atmospheric pressure.
b) The manometers shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are connected to the same gas pipe at the
same pressure as shown in Fig. 1.
On Figs 2 and 3, draw the levels of the liquid in each manometer if
(i) the manometer in Fig. 2 contains water and has tubes with twice the diameter of
Fig. 1,
(ii) the manometer in Fig. 3 contains a liquid with density half that of water.
Fig. 4
Explain why the water levels are different in Figs. 4 and 1, even though the pressure
in the gas pipe is the same.
7. Use the kinetic molecular model to explain why an aerosol can of underarm deodorant has a
large label on the side that says: 'Danger. Do not dispose of the can by throwing it in a fire.'
8. A deep-sea diver is working at a depth where the pressure is 3.0 atmospheres. He is breathing
out air bubbles. The volume of each bubble is 2 cm 3. At the surface the pressure is 1.0
atmosphere. What is the volume of each bubble when it reaches the surface (assuming its
temperature remains the same)?
9. a) A cyclist pushes in the plunger of her bicycle pump slowly, compressing the air to a quarter
of its volume. What would be the final pressure if the compression is isothermic (no change
in temperature)?
b) Describe and explain, in terms of the air particles in the pump, the effect of decreasing the
volume on the pressure of the air particles in the pump (temperature is kept constant).
c) Describe and explain what happens to the pressure if the air is compressed very quickly?
11. a) Describe and explain, in terms of the air molecules, how the pressure changes when the
gas in the sealed container is heated.
*b) The pressure of a gas in an enclosed container is directly proportional to its absolute
temperature (in K). A sealed container in a factory contains a gas at 100 kPa and at a
temperature of 280 K.
Determine the pressure of the gas if the sealed container is heated to 560 K without
exploding.
What happens to the pressure and to the volume of the trapped air as the pump handle is
pushed in?
3 A manometer is being used to measure the pressure of the gas inside a tank.
A, B, C and D show the manometer at different times.
At which time is the gas pressure inside the tank greatest?
5 The diagram shows two divers swimming in the sea and two divers swimming in fresh water.
Sea water is more dense than fresh water.
On which diver is there the greatest pressure?
6 Four flower vases have circular bases. They are filled with water so that they all have the same
weight.
What vase exerts the greatest pressure on its base?
7 Two sharp nails and two blunt nails are held on a piece of wood. Each nail is hit with the same
hammer with the same amount of force.
When it is hit, which nail causes the greatest pressure on the wood?
Which statement correctly describes the pressure exerted by the carbon dioxide.
A It is equal to the atmospheric pressure.
B It is equal to the 5 cm of mercury.
C It is equal to 5 cm of mercury above atmospheric pressure.
D It is equal to 5 cm of mercury below atmospheric pressure.
9 Liquid X has a density of 1010 kg/m 3. Liquid Y has a density of 950 kg/m3.
The liquids are poured into tubes as shown.
Which tube has the greatest pressure at its base?
A 1, 2, 3 B 1, 2 C 2, 3 D 1 only
Core questions
1 A garden pot containing soil weights a total of 360 N. The pot rests on three equally-spaced
blocks, so that surplus water can drain out of the holes in the base of the pot. The soil is
uniformly distributed in the pot. The pot is shown in Fig. 1.1.
Fig. 1.1
a) What is the force exerted by each block on the pot? ............................................. N
b) State the direction of these forces?
......................................................................................................
c) The gardener finds that the blocks sink into the ground, but he must have the pot up on
blocks to allow the drainage. What can he do to reduce the sinking of the pot?
...........................................................................................................................................
[3]
2 a) A manufacturer of car tyres estimates that the area of a car tyre in contact with the road is
about the same as the area of a person's shoe in contact with the ground.
(i) A car weighs 10 000 N and a person weights 500 N.
pressure of car on ground
Calculate the ratio
pressure of person on ground
Remember that the car has 4 tyres and a person has 2 feet.
(ii) Suggest why it might be a good idea to reduce the pressure of the air in car tyres if
the car is to be driven over soft sand or over snow.
..............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
[5]
Fig. 2.1
(i) Before the person blows at A, the liquid levels at X and Y are the same.
State the reason for this.
......................................................................................................................................
(ii) Which way do the liquid levels move when the person blows at A?
(iii) What would you measure in order to find the person's lung pressure?
....................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
[4]
E xtended questions
1 Fig. 1.1 shows a sealed glass syringe that contains air and many very tiny suspended dust
particles.
Fig . 1.1
(a) Explain why the dust particles are suspended in the air and do not settle to the bottom.
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................... [3]
5
(b) The air in the syringe is at a pressure of 2.0 x 10 Pa. The piston is slowly moved into the
syringe, keeping the temperature constant, until the volume of the air is reduced from
80 cm3 to 25 cm3. Calculate the final pressure of the air.
2 Explain
(a) how air molecules in a sealed box create pressure on the inside walls.
.................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
(b) why this pressure rises as the temperature of the air in the sealed box increases.
................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
[5]
1 In an experiment to study the effect of increasing pressure on the volume of air, the IGCSE
class used the apparatus shown in Fig. 6.1.
Fig. 6.3
Fig. 6.3 shows the graph that one student plotted from the readings. She drew a best-fit
curve through the points. Theory suggests that the relationship between pressure and volume
is given by equation
p x V = constant
The student is required to find the value of the constant.
(b) Why is it better to find the value of the constant using the graph than from a single
measurement of p and V?
...........................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c) (i) Use these two examples, taken from the graph, to show that the readings from the
experiment support the theory.
V = ............................... cm3
p V = ....................................
p = ............................ kPa
p V = ...................................
(ii) Using your answers from (c) (i), predict the pressure required to reduce the volume
to 18 cm3.
p = .................................... kPa
[4]
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