Pressure, p

Definition: Pressure is defined as the force acting normally per unit surface area.
NB: Normally means: force must be perpendicular (at right angle) to the area of contact.
NB: The pressure depends on the force and the area.

(surface area)

The unit is Pascal Pa

p=

F
A

Where 1 Pascal is equal to Newton per meter square (

N
m2

) or Nm-2

If there is a change in pressure of a liquid or gas it causes it to move (to balance out the
difference in pressure).

Pressure is dependent on the volume of the substance.

When a can is normal, the pressure inside is equal to the pressure outside.
1 Pa=1

N
2
m

If we rearrange the formula for pressure we get a useful formula for calculating force:
force= pressure area
F=pA

There are many other units of pressure in everyday use, for example:

Atmospheres of pressure = number of times a pressure is greater than atmospheric

pressure.
mm of mercury = gas pressure read on a mercury barometer
Pounds per square inch, is an old unit still used for stating pressure for car tyres etc.

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure

Pressure3in Solids
Pascal Pressure when a force of 1N is acting on a surface area of 1 m2
Pressure and Force is not the same term.
Pressure is directly proportional to the force but inversely proportional to the area

p F

directly proportional

1
A

inverse proportionality

Smaller area the greater the force

E.g.: A box with dimension 6 x 4 x 2 with a mass of 48kg. What is the least pressure the box
will exert on the ground?
p=

F
A

F=mg
48 kg 10 N kg1
480 N

To get the least pressure

1
A therefore you need the greatest area to get the smallest

pressure. Therefore, 6 4=24 largest force

480 N
24

= 20 Pa

480 N
6 2

480
12

480 N
2 4

480 N
8

OR

= 40 Pa

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

OR

= 60 Pa

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure

4
Therefore, the lowest pressure exerted would
be 20 Pa at 6 x 4side

The Pressure exerted by solids depends on the surface area. It is an inverse relationship.

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure

Pressure5in Fluids
Fluids also exert pressure.
Fluid pressure depends on the following factors:
Depth Below surface
Density of the fluid
The pressure in a liquid at a certain level is proportional to the height of liquid above that level.
NB: The pressure in a liquid increases with the depth below its surface.
Pressure and Depth
The pressure is caused by the weight of the liquid in the container, at particular depths.
Pressure and Direction:
NB: The pressure in a liquid is equal in all directions at the same depth.
Pressure and Liquid Density
If the pressure is measured at the same depth below the surface of different liquids we find that:
The pressure is proportional to the density of the liquid.

Liquid levels
The liquid pressure depends only on the height of the particular liquid and not on the
shape or width of the tube.
When a liquid is poured into a set of connected tubes of various shapes the liquid flows round the
tubes until all the liquid surfaces are all at the same level. The pressures at the open tops of the
tubes are all the same, being the air pressure. The liquid pressures at the bottom of each tube
must be equal otherwise the liquid would flow to equalize the pressures.
Even though the tubes have different shapes and different cross-sectional areas, for pressures at
the bottom of the tubes to be equal, they require only the same vertical height h of the same
liquid.

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure

Pressure does not depend on the shape of the container

All points on the same horizontal level in a liquid at rest have the
same pressure

Pressure acts in all directions

Pressure increases with depth

Pressure is directly proportional to the density of a liquid

Calculating Pressure in a Liquid

The volume V of the liquid in the column is given by:
volume=base area height

V=Ah

The mass m of the liquid of density is given by:

mass=density volume

m= V
The weight W of the liquid is given by: W =mg
W =mg=( V )g=( Ah)g

The pressure at the base of the liquid column is found from:

Pressure=

normal force W
=
area
A
p=

Ahg
=hg
A

p=hg

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure

7 to the height h of liquid above and the

The pressure below a liquid surface is proportional

density, of the liquid.

The pressure is independent of the area.
NB: the formula does not include any air pressure acting on the surface of a liquid. It gives the
extra pressure in the liquid at a depth h below its surface.
The pressure due to the height of the fluid (liquid and gas) only also called Excess Pressure is
calculated by:

PF =P Ex =hg

(h-height, -rho, g-gravitational acceleration)

Px = Patmospheric + PEx
Also called Hydrostatic pressure because the fluid is at rest
Proof: PEx = h g
F
A

P=

F=mg
=

m
v

since
and
P=

Then

m=v

F=vg

vg
A

But Volume is Area x h

v =Ah

P=

P=

vg
A

Ahg
A

Substitute v with Ah

P=hg

The pressure in a fluid is independent of Area (not needed).

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure

NB: Pressure is the same at the same horizontal 8

NB: Pressure is independent of the shape of the container, provided that it is on the same plain.

Hydraulic Breaking System

Pascals Law:
The pressure applied to any point of a fluid in a closed vessel is transmitted equally
to every point in the fluid.
The brakes system of a car is an example of the Hydraulic Machine. When a force is applied to a
brake pedal the resulting pressure is transmitted equally throughout the fluid and to other pistons.
The resulting force causes the brake shoes/pads/disc-pads to press against the wheels and the car
slows down.
The incompressibility of a liquid causes pressure to be transmitted equally throughout the fluid.
Hydraulic Machines
-

Hydraulic machines work by using liquids under pressure. They make use of the following
properties:

Liquids are uncompressible

Liquid pressure acts equally in all directions at the same level

If pressure is applied to a trapped liquid, the pressure is transmitted to all parts of the liquid

An advantage to this is the ability to magnify a force by using a piston of larger area.

Psmall piston =Plarge piston

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure

F1 9 F 2
=
A 1 A2
F 1=

F 2 A1
A2

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

F2 =

F 1 A2
A1

A 1=

F1 A 2
F2

A 2=

F2 A1
F1

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure

10 to gases
Pressure due

The pressure of solids and liquids can be attributed to their weight but the weight of a gas is very
small to compare with that of a solid or a liquid.
Atmosphere is a combination of many gases this causes a weight which causes Atmospheric
Pressure.
Instead we attribute the pressure of gases in a container e.g. Balloon to the collision of the air
molecules with the balloon walls. The molecules of a gas are at constant random motion. As the
molecules move around they strike the walls of the balloon and rebound from it. At each
collision there is a change in momentum, this change in momentum per second results in a
normal force on the inner walls of the balloon. This force acts per unit surface area hence
resulting in a Pressure on the walls of the balloon.
Collision momentum per second normal force acting per unit surface area pressure
1
Ek = mv 2
2

If velocity changes then momentum changes

P=mv

Second law

F=ma or

F=

AP
t

F
there is a normal force acts per unit area
A

which creates a pressure

Atmospheric Pressure
The atmospheric pressure is as a result of the weight of all the gases in the atmosphere. As you
go up air gets thinner, density decreases and pressure decreases because

p=h g

Since the pressure of the liquid inside the tube is equal to the pressure in the liquid in the through
which is equal to the atmospheric pressure. Then the height of the liquid inside the tube can be
used to determine the atmospheric pressure.
U Tube Manometer

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure

Used to measure the excess gas pressure .i.e. the11pressure due to the height

Pressure of the water is equal at the same levels of height

Archimedes Principle

This principle states for a body fully or partially immersed in a liquid the up thrust experienced
by the body is equal and opposite to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
The up thrust is the upward force acting on the submerged body caused by the difference in
pressure. Archimedes principle is used to explain why objects float.
The principle of floatation states that a floating body displaces its own weight in the fluid in
which it floats that is;
The weight of fluid displaced = the weight of the object
Up thrust of force = weight of fluid displaced
W >U sink

U >W rising
The density of the fluid depends on whether the object floats or sinks.

Archimedes Principal And Law of Flotation

Archimedes Principle states that the upthrust on an object wholly or partially immersed in a
fluid is equal and opposite to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
Law of Flotation states that a floating object displaces its own weight of the fluid in which it is
placed.

Prepared by: Mr. L. Adams

G.H.S.

Physics Notes: Pressure