Pn Haziah bt Awang Lah, Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah.

2007

3.1 UNDERSTANDING PRESSURE

Pressure :

F = Force (N)
A = surface area (m2)
P= P = Pressure (

Relationship between pressure and force, pressure and surface area

Situation 1 : Press a thumbtack into a piece of wood with your thumb (figure 3.1a) and then hit
using the hammer (figure 3.1b).
(a) Observe figure 3.1a and figure 3.1b and
state one comparision.

…………………………………………………

…………………………………………………
Figure 3.1a Figure 3.1b (b) Which one is received a higher force?

……………………………………………
P
(c) State the relationship between pressure
and force.

…………………………………………………
F

Situation 2 : A boy tries to pop a balloon by using his finger (figure 3.2a) and then a needle
(figure 3.2b).
(a) Observe figure 3.2a and figure 3.2b. and
compare.

………………………………………………

……………………………………………….

(b) Which figure shows that the higher

Figure 3.2a Figure 3.2b pressure is exerted to the balloon?

…………………………………………..
P P
(c) State the relationship between pressure
and surface area.

……………………………………………..

A 1/A ……………………………………………..

42
TEACHER’S SIGNATURE : …………………………
 Pn Haziah bt Awang Lah, Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah. 2007

Application of pressure in our daily life.

Give one benefit for high pressure and low pressure.

(a) High pressure.

(b) Low pressure

Solving Problem

1. Calculate the pressure on a wall when the palm of a hand with area 150 cm2 is pushed
against the wall a force of 210 N.

2. A teacher who weights 637N has a foot with a surface area of 200 cm2. When he stand
with one foot, calculate the force applied.

3. Calculate the pressure exerted at the point of drawing pin if pushed against a board with
a force of 5 N, assuming the area of the point is 0.1 mm2.

4. A 68 kg is standing in a lawn. Calculate the pressure applied to the soft ground if she is
wearing :
(a) flat shoes with a contact area of 160 cm2
(b) high-heeled shoes with total contact area of 54 cm2

43
TEACHER’S SIGNATURE : …………………………