KS3 Physics

9L Pressure and
Moments

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 Contents

9L Pressure and Moments

Pressure

Pressure in liquids

Moments

Summary activities

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 What is pressure?
Pressure is exerted whenever a force is applied over an area.

1. 2.

If the same force is applied in each picture, which arm exerts

the highest pressure on the board?

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 High and low pressure
1.
The arm applies a force
to the board via a fingertip.
The force acts over a
small area and so
produces a high pressure.
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2.
The same force is now acting
over a larger area – the palm
has a greater surface area
than the fingertip.
A lower pressure is produced.
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 Calculating pressure
Pressure is the force per unit area
and is calculated using this formula:

force
f
pressure =
area p x a
Pressure is measured in:
Newtons per square metre (N/m2), which are also called
pascals (Pa).
Pressure can also be measured in:
Newtons per square millimetre (N/mm2);
Newtons per square centimetre (N/cm2).

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 Which type of pressure?
The same force spread over a larger area means a lower
pressure.
Which type of shoes would be best for walking over a muddy
field – flat soles or heels?

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 Which type of pressure?
The boots have flat soles
and spread the person’s
weight over a large surface
area.
These boots exert a low
pressure on the ground.
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In contrast, the heeled
shoes have a smaller
surface area and so
exert a higher pressure.
These shoes are likely
to sink into soft ground.
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 Using low pressure
A force spread over a large area means low pressure,
e.g. skis and snowboards.

The large surface area

of the board means the
skier exerts very little
pressure on the snow.

This means he slides

over the top of the snow
and does not sink into it.

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 Using high pressure
A force concentrated on a small area means high pressure,
e.g. high heeled shoes, needles, ice skates, sharp knives.

The high pressure of the

blade of an ice-skate melts
the ice and helps the skater
slide across the surface.

The narrow blade of a knife

means that it exerts a high
pressure and makes it easier
to cut fruit and vegetables.

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 Contents

9L Pressure and Moments

Pressure

Pressure in liquids

Moments

Summary activities

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 Pressure in a liquid

Pressure in a liquid:
 acts in all directions;
 increases with depth.

A liquid can be used to transmit

pressure from one place to
another.

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 Pressure in a liquid
The relationship between pressure and depth is shown
by a water bottle with holes along its length.

low pressure

high pressure

Pressure (N/m2) = 10 N/kg x depth (m) x density (kg/m3)

The pull The greater the The denser the liquid,

of gravity depth, the higher the heavier it is.
the pressure
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 Hydraulics
Hydraulic systems use the principle that pressure is
transmitted throughout a liquid.
They are used to transfer movement from one part of a
machine to another without linking the parts mechanically.
All hydraulic systems use two pistons linked via a pipe
carrying a special oil called hydraulic fluid.

Force Force
applied transferred
here here

Pressure inside all parts of the

hydraulic system is the same

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 Hydraulic brake
All hydraulic brake systems (e.g. in a car) use a small
master piston and a bigger slave piston.
hydraulic fluid

slave pistons foot pedal

master piston
The master piston is used to apply a force. This puts the
liquid under pressure. The pressure is transmitted to the
pistons on all four wheels of the car.
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 Hydraulic brake – pressure equations
The pressure exerted by the master piston on the
hydraulic fluid can be calculated using this equation:
force applied
pressure =
area of master piston
The pressure is transmitted to the slave pistons and so the
force exerted by the slave piston can be calculated using:
force exerted
pressure =
area of slave piston
force exerted = pressure x area of slave piston
The slave piston has a larger area than the master piston.
So, the force exerted by the slave pistons on the brakes is
greater than the force exerted by the driver on the brake pedal.

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 Hydraulic brake – calculations
The master piston of a car has an area of 5cm2.

1. If a force of 10N is applied to the master piston, calculate

the pressure created in the brake pipes.

2. If the slave piston has an area of 50 cm2, calculate the

force exerted on the brake disc.

Calculations:
1. At the master piston, p = f = 10 N = 2 N/cm2
a 5cm2
2. At the slave piston, f = p x a = 2 N/cm2 x 50cm2 = 100 N
So, the force exerted on the brake disc is ten times greater
than the original force applied to the master piston.

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 Hydraulics activity

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 Contents

9L Pressure and Moments

Pressure

Pressure in liquids

Moments

Summary activities

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 Force and rotation
A force acting on an object can cause it to turn about a pivot.

pivot
5N

What happens to the see-saw when a force is applied on the

left-hand side?
Does the seesaw turn? If so, clockwise or anti-clockwise?

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 Force and rotation – a moment

The left-hand side of the see-saw moves downwards when

a force is applied to it – this is an anticlockwise turn.

pivot

The turning effect of a force

is called a moment.

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 Using moments
A spanner is a lever that can be used to unscrew a nut.
The spanner exerts a moment or turning force on the nut.

pivot
distance
from force
to pivot

force

If the moment is big enough it will unscrew the nut.

If not, there are two ways of increasing the moment.
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 Using moments – increasing the moment
1. Increase the distance from the force to the pivot
– apply the force at the end or use a longer spanner.

pivot
distance
from force
to pivot

force
If the same force is applied over a greater distance,
a larger moment is produced.

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 Using moments – increasing the moment
2. Increase the force applied
– push/pull harder or get someone stronger to do it!

pivot
distance
from force
to pivot

force

If a greater force is applied over the same distance,

a larger moment is produced.

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 Moment equation
The moment of a force is given by the equation:

moment = force (N) x distance from pivot (cm or m)

moment

f x d

Moments are measured in Newton centimetres (Ncm) or

Newton metres (Nm).

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 Moment calculation
Gina weighs 500 N and stands on one end of a seesaw.
She is 0.5 m from the pivot.
What moment does she exert?

moment = 500 x 0.5

= 250 Nm
0.5 m

500 N
pivot

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 Principle of moments
The girl on the left exerts
an anti-clockwise moment,
which equals...
her weight x her distance
from pivot
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pivot
The girl on the right exerts
a clockwise moment,
which equals...
her weight x her distance
from pivot
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 Principle of moments

pivot
If the anticlockwise moment and clockwise moment are
equal then the see-saw is balanced. This is known as the
principle of moments.
When something is balanced about a pivot:
total clockwise moment = total anticlockwise moment

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 Principle of moments
The principle of moments can be investigated using
10g masses with this balance.

moment (right) = (10 x 3) + (10 x 4)

moment (left) = 10 x 7
= 70 gcm
= 70 gcm
Both moments are equal and so the see-saw is balanced.

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 Principle of moments – calculation
Two girls are sitting on opposite sides of on a see-saw.
One girl weighs 200 N and is 1.5 m from the pivot. Where
must her 150 N friend sit if the seesaw is to balance?

When the see-saw is balanced:

total clockwise moment = total anticlockwise moment
200 N x 1.5 m = 150 N x distance
200 x 1.5 = distance
150

distance of second girl = 2 m

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 Why don’t cranes fall over?

Tower cranes are essential at any major construction site.

trolley
load arm

counterweight

loading platform
tower

Concrete counterweights are fitted to the crane’s short arm.

Why are these needed for lifting heavy loads?

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 Why don’t cranes fall over?
Using the principle of moments, when is the crane balanced?

3m
6m

? 10,000 N

moment of = moment of
load counterweight

If a 10,000 N counterweight is three metres from the

tower, what weight can be lifted when the loading
platform is six metres from the tower?

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 Why don’t cranes fall over?
moment of = load x distance of load from tower
load
= ? x 6

moment of = counterweight x distance of counterweight

counterweight from tower
= 10,000 x 3
= 30,000 Nm

moment of load = moment of counterweight

? x 6 = 30,000
? = 3,000
6
? = 5,000 N
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 Crane operator activity

Where should the loading platform be on the loading arm

to carry each load safely?

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 Contents

9L Pressure and Moments

Pressure

Pressure in liquids

Moments

Summary activities

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 Glossary
 counterbalance – A weight used to balance another weight.
 effort – The force applied to use a lever.
 hydraulics – The use of liquid to transmit pressure from
one place to another.
 lever – A simple machine that moves about a pivot and
makes work easier by increasing the size of a force.
 load – The force moved when using a lever.
 moment – The turning effect of a force. It equals the force
multiplied by the distance from the pivot.
 pascal – A unit of pressure (Pa). 1 Pa = 1 newton per square
metre (N/m2).
 pivot – The point around which a lever turns.
 pressure – The force pushing on a certain area. It equals
the force divided by area and can be measured in pascals (Pa).

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 Anagrams

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 Multiple-choice quiz

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