Pressure and Motion

Pressure
 Pressure
• Describes how a force
is spread over an area.

• It is a measure of how
much force is acting on
a certain area.
Understanding Pressure
 The Formula

Pressure = Force / Area

P=F/A

Units: Pascal (Pa)

Unit SI: Nm^-2

 Increasing Pressure

You can increase pressure in two ways:

1.Increase the force

2.Decrease the area of the force

 Pressure

• When a cat lies down on your lap, the force of the

cat’s weight is spread out over a large area of your
lap.
• If the cat stands up, all of the force from the cat’s
weight is concentrated into its paws (small area).
Application of Pressure: Low Pressure
Application of Pressure: High Pressure
 Thumbtack

Low Pressure

High Pressure
High Heel

High Pressure
 Tractor on Mud

Low Pressure

A tractor moving on soft ground has wide tires to reduce the

pressure on the ground so that they will not sink into the ground.
Pressure in Liquid
 Pressure in Liquid
Pressure in liquid is owing to the weight of the liquid acting on the surface
of any objects in the liquid.

Pressure of a liquid is directly proportional to

a) the gravitational field strength
b) the depth
c) density of the liquid
 Fluids Density
What parameters do we use to describe fluids?
Density

units :
kg/m3 = 10-3 g/cm3

 (water) = 1.000 x103 kg/m3 = 1.000 g/cm3

 (ice) = 0.917 x103 kg/m3 = 0.917 g/cm3

 (air) = 1.29 kg/m3 = 1.29 x10-3 g/cm3

 (Hg) = 13.6 x103 kg/m3 = 13.6 g/cm3

Relate depth to pressure in a liquid.
Pressure in Liquid
 Pressure ∝ Depth.
Pressure in liquid increase
with depth.
 Pressure in Liquid affected
by depth from the surface of
the liquid.

The deeper it goes, the

higher the pressure.
 Pressure in liquids is not affected by the size or shape of the object.

All points at the same level in the same liquid are at the same pressure.
 Pressure in
Liquid of 2
points which
are at the same
depth is the
same.
Bubbles get bigger as they rise to the surface of the sea.
Why?
Characteristics of Pressure in Liquid
 The Difference of Water and Oil

At the same depth,

pressure exerted by a
Far
denser liquid is greater
than pressure exerted by a
less dense liquid.

This is because a liquid

with higher density has a Near
larger weight.
The pressure at any points acts equally in all direction, as
long as the liquid is not moving.
 Pressure acts in all directions in fluids
• Fluids are made of loosely connected particles that
are too small to see.
• Their motion is random; they crash into one another
and into anything around.
• As they collide with an object in
the fluid, they apply constant
pressure to the surfaces of the
object.
The pressure in a liquids acts in all
direction

If the thistle funnel, bent at

different angles is placed at the
same depth y, the manometer
will indicate the same reading
h. A liquid exerts a pressure on
every surface in contact with it
regardless which way the
surface is facing.
 Pressure does not depend on the surface area of the object.

Pressure exerted on the small fish = Pressure exerted on the big fish
Pressure in liquid is
not affected by area
The U-Tube
The fact that the pressure at a certain level in a liquid is the same
at all points at that level is used in the manometer – a device for
measuring pressure or comparing the densities of two liquids.
Pressure in Liquid - the U-Tube Manometer
In Figure 1 a U tube is partly filled with liquid. The pressure of the
air on both the open ends is the same, the pressure at the points A
and B must be the same (same level in the liquid) and so the
levels of the top of each limb of the U tube are equal.

In Figure 2 the U tube is still partly filled with liquid but this time
someone blows into the right hand open end. The pressure at the
points A and B must still be the same (same level in the liquid) and
so the height of the column of liquid on the right is less than that
on the left.
The pressure at A is due to the ordinary air pressure plus the
height of the column above A and the pressure at B is the higher
air pressure plus the liquid column above B.

In Figure 3 the U tube contains two different liquids. The yellow

liquid on the right has a higher density than the blue liquid on the
left and so less of it is needed to give the same pressure at points
A and B. The pressure at the points A and B must still be the
same.
The pressure at A is due to the ordinary air pressure plus the
height of the column above A and the pressure at B is the higher
air pressure plus the liquid column above B.
 Pressure in Liquid - the U-Tube Manometer
If the pressure on one limb of a U tube is greater than the
Measuring of Pressure other this difference in pressure can be measured by simply
finding the DIFFERENCE in height (h) of the liquid in the two
Using a Manometer limbs of the U tube. In the diagram shown here (Figure 4) this
difference is 11 cm.

This apparatus can be used to measure the pressure of your

lungs above atmospheric pressure by simply blowing into one
end of a long U tube and the finding the difference in liquid
levels. If water is used as the liquid in the U tube your lung
pressure will be anything between about 50 and 200 cm of
water. This means that you could hold up a column of water
between 50 and 200 cm high just by blowing.

The actual pressure above atmospheric in pascals can be

worked out using the formula:

Pressure = depth x density x gravity = 0.11 x 1000 x 10 = 110

Pa
(Acceleration due to the Earth's gravity = 10 m/s2 and density
of water = 1000 kg/m3)
Application of Pressure in
Liquid
 Application of Pressure in Liquid

Dam

The wall of the dam is built

thicker at the bottom to
withstand a higher pressure.

The generator is placed at

the lower part so that the
pressure of the water is high
enough to drive the turbine.
Broad and thicker base to withstand high water
pressure at the bottom of the dam
 Application of Pressure in Liquid

Submarine

In deep sea, the pressure of

the water is tremendously
high.

The deeper the submarine

submerge into the water, the
greater the pressure exerted.

Hence the body of the

submarine is thick and built
by strong material.
 Application of Pressure in Liquid

Measuring Blood Pressure

When measuring blood

pressure, the inflatable cuff
of the sphygmomanometer
should be at the same level
with the heart so that the
pressure measured is equal
to the blood pressure of the
heart.
 Application of Pressure in Liquid

For intravenous transfusion

Intravenous Transfusion (IV), the bottle is hung at an
elevated position to ensure
that the liquid in the IV bottle
gains sufficient pressure to
flow into the vein of the
patient.
Application of Pressure in Liquid

Water Tower

The water
tower/tank is built at
high place so that
the water has
sufficient/stronger
pressure to flow to
consumer’s house.
 Gas Pressure and
Atmospheric Pressure
Gas Pressure
Pressure is due to the net force of the
molecules in a fluid colliding with the walls.

A very large number of

collisions happen each
second.

Each collision exerts a tiny net

force on the wall.
 Gas Pressure

Kinetic Theory Of Gases

• Gases or atmosphere consist of molecules
which far apart and in random motion at high
speed.
When gas particles hit against the wall, its momentum
changes.

The rate of momentum produces force.

Force per unit area produces pressure.

Atmospheric Pressure
 Atmospheric Pressure

The global average sea-

level pressure is Pa,
or 1 atm.
 Atmospheric Pressure
The earth is surrounded by a thick layer of atmosphere.

Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the atmospheric on

the surface as well as all objects on Earth.
Characteristics of atmospheric or gas pressure.

1. Unit : 1 atmosphere = 1 x 105 Pa.

= 1 x 105 Nm-2
= 1000 milibar
= 760 mm Hg
= 10 m water
1 milibar = 100 Pa

2. Atmospheric pressure acts in all direction.

3. It not affected by surface area of the object.

Note: 10m water = 1 atm.

So if you swim down in a sea of 100m depth, it would be 10 atm.
 Characteristics of atmospheric or gas pressure.

4. The atmospheric pressure depend on altitude. Hence as

the altitude increases, the atmospheric decrease.

5. The atmospheric pressure can support a column of

mercury at 760mm in high or column of water at 10m high.

6. The gas pressure inside a container depends on;

Density of molecules of gases
Temperature
Volume of the container
 Pressure in Air
• At sea level the pressure of the air in the
atmosphere exerts 2.2 lbs. of pressure on
every square centimetre of your body.

• You don’t notice it, though, because your

body provides an equal reaction force!
 Pressure in Air
• Changing Elevation- As you go up, air pressure
decreases.
• Changing Density- Air at lower elevations is
denser.
 Pressure in Water
• Water exerts more pressure on you than air because it
is denser.
• As you go deeper, the pressure increases.
• At 3300 ft. the pressure of the water would collapse
your lungs if you weren’t wearing special deep sea
diving equipment.
Atmospheric Pressure
 Pressure in the liquid
= atmospheric pressure + pressure of liquid

P = Patm + ｐg h
 Example

What happens with two fluids?? Consider a U

tube containing liquids of density  1 and  2 as
shown:
Compare the densities of the liquids: 2
1

A)  1 <  2 B)  1 =  2 C)  1 >  2
Measuring Instruments
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
Mercury Barometer

1. The height of the mercury column, h = 76 cm, represents the

atmospheric pressure.
2. The atmospheric pressure, P
P= hρg
= 0.76 m x 1.36 x 104 kg m-3 x 10 N kg-1
= 101 300 Pa
Aneroid barometer

1. Consist of a flexible metal can be which most of

the air inside the can has been taken out of it.
2. When the surrounding pressure is higher, the
top of the can is squeezed down slightly causing
the pointer to move along the curved scale
measuring the corresponding pressure.
3. The spring prevents the flexible metal can from
collapsing completely by the atmospheric
pressure.
Manometer

1. Consist of a U-Tube that is filled with a liquid like water, oil or

mercury
2. When both ends of the tube is exposed to atmospheric pressure,
both level are the same.
3. When one end is connected to a gas supply, the difference in
level, h gives the pressure of the gas, P
where
P = Atmospheric pressure + h ρ g
Bourdon Gauge

1. The movement of a gas into a hollow copper tube causes

it to straighten slightly.
2. A system of lever and gear will enable a pointer to move
along the round scale indicating the pressure of a gas
measured.
Application of Gas Pressure
APPLICATION OF GAS / ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

Straw
Siphon Lifting pump
Rubber sucker Vacuum cleaner
Drinking Straw

When we suck through a

straw, the air pressure in the
straw is lowered. Then the
pressure of the atmosphere
acting on the surface of the
drink in the glass pushes the
water up the straw.
Rubber Sucker
When the sucker is pressed into
place, most of the air behind it
is squeezed out. The sucker is
held in position by the pressure
of atmosphere on the outside
surface of the rubber. If the seal
between the sucker and the
surface is airtight, the sucker
will stick permanently.
 Syringe
The atmosphere on the liquid
surface then pushes the liquid
up into the syringe.

If we then hold the plunger in

place and lift the syringe out of
liquid, none will fall out. This is
again due to atmospheric
pressure.

Pulling up the piston

reduces the atmospheric
pressure inside the
cylinder.
 Vacuum Cleaner

The fan inside the cylinder

blows air out of the vents. –
less air inside, air pressure
drops.

The atmospheric pressure

outside then pushes air up
the cleaner hose, carrying
dust and dirt with it.

Produces only a partial

vacuum.
Carburetor
Pascal’s Principle
Pascal’s principle states that when pressure is applied to an enclosed
fluid, the pressure will be transmitted equally throughout the whole
enclosed fluid.

When the piston is pushed into

the glass sphere the jet of water
is shot out from the holes in the
glass sphere with the same
speed.

This is because the pressure

acting on the water is transferred
uniformly throughout the water.
Output force Output piston area
Input force = Input piston area

F2 A2
F1 = A1
 Pascal’s Principle

Consider the system shown:

• A downward force F1 is applied to the piston of area
A1.
• This force is transmitted through the liquid to create
an upward force F2.
• Pascal’s Principle says that increased pressure from
F1 (F1/A1) is transmitted throughout the liquid.

F2 > F1 : Have we violated conservation of energy??

 Pascal’s Principle

• Consider F1 moving through a distance d1.

• How large is the volume of the liquid displaced?

• This volume determines the displacement of the

large piston.

Therefore the work done by F1 equals the work done by F2.

We have NOT obtained “something for nothing”.
Application of Pascal’s
Principle
Hidraulik Jack

When the handle is pulled, valve

P is still closed and valve Q
opens so the pressure can be
sent to the larger piston. The
large piston will rise.
While the small piston is pulled
out, valve Q closes and valve P
opens so that the oil in the tank
enter into the hydraulic cylinder
as a result of atmospheric
pressure.
By moving the push-pull handle
a number of times , the large
piston can be raised carrying a
heavy load.
Hidraulik Brake

A small force acting at the pedal

can transmit a large force to all
wheels simultaneously to stop
the car.
It is because the pressure will be
transferred through the pedal
brake liquid to car’s tyre
 Figure 1 shows a person brake his car by pressing the brake
pedal. The brake pedal is linked to the main piston. The main
pedal transmit the brake oil through a serial of tube to operate the
front and rear brake.
a) Name the physics principle that relates with the above
situation
b) Brake will not well function if there is some air bubbles in the
brake oil. Explain why?
Archimedes’ Principle
 Buoyant Force

The buoyant force is an upward force resulting from an

object being wholly or partially immersed in a fluid.
Relate buoyant force with the actual weight and apparent weight

Buoyant force makes thing seem to be lighter.

The weight of an object in air is its

actual weight.

The weight measured when the

object is immersed in a fluid is its
apparent weight.

The apparent
weight loss of the object is due to
buoyant force .
 SINKING AND FLOATING
OBJECTS

The reading of The reading of

spring balance is 2.7 N spring balance is 1.7 N
What is the reading of spring balance
if the wood is attached to it ? ZERO
 When in water, the object experiences two forces:
(a) The actual weight which acts downwards
(b) The buoyant force which acts upwards.

• The buoyant force is equal to the apparent loss in weight.

Buoyant force = actual weight – apparent weight
= 25 – 15 = 10 N

• The object displaces a volume of water. The bigger the volume of

the object immersed, the bigger the volume of the liquid displaced.

• Volume of liquid displaced = volume of the submerged part of the

object.
 UPTHRUST AND
BUOYANT FORCE

The key word in the principle is “upthrust” (or

buoyant force), which refers to the force acting
upward to reduce the actual weight of the object
when it is under water.

for example, a metal block with a volume of 100

cm3 is dipped in water, it displaces an equal
volume of water, which has a weight of
approximately 1 N. The block therefore seems to
weigh about 1 N less.
• Volume of liquid displaced = volume of
the submerged part of the object.

Upthrust force = Weight of the

Displaced Water
Example

The weight of the rock in air is 0.85N. When it is completely

submerged in water, its weight is 0.45N. What is the buoyant
force acting on the rock when it is completely submerged in
the water ?

Solution :
Buoyant force = Actual weight – Apparent weight
= 0.85 – 0.45
= 0.4N
Example
A concrete slab weight 180N. When it is fully
submerged under the sea its apparent weight is 105N.
Calculate the density of the sea water if the volume
of the sea water displaced by the concrete slab is 4800
cm3. [ g = 9.8 Nkg-1 ]
Solution :
Buoyant force = actual weight – apparent weight
= 180 – 102
= 72N
According to Archimedes’s principle
Buoyant force = weight of sea water displaced

Therefore,
F = pVg
so…. p = F / Vg
= 72 / (4800 x 10-6 x 9.8 )
= 1530.61 kg m-3
An object of density, 40 gcm-3 and mass 500g is immersed in a
liquid of density 2 gcm-3.

Calculate
a) the volume of liquid displaced
b) the mass of the liquid displaced
c) the buoyant force experienced by the object (g=10ms-2)
 Density and Buoyancy

From Archimedes’s Principle :

Buoyant Force = Weight of fluid displaced
= mg (note : F = ma)
=  Vg (note :  = m )
V
Thus FB =  V g
Where ……
FB = Buoyant Force or Upthrust
 = Density of fluid
V = Volume of fluid displaced or
the volume of the object that immersed in the fluid.
What is the buoyant force on a block of gold with a volume of 0.025m3
submerged in a tank of water (density 1.0 x 103 kg/m3)?

Use the buoyant force equation FB = ｐg V

Plug in the values FB = (1.0 x 103 kg/m3) (9.8 m/s2) (.025m3)

Solve for the buoyant force FB = 245 N

 Buoyant Force and Floatation

Buoyant force = weight  the object floats and stationary

Buoyant force > weight  the object moves up

Buoyant force < weight  the object moves down

 The Law of Floatation

A floating object displaces its own weight of fluid in which it

floats.
Archimedes’ Principle state that “ When an object is immersed in a
fluid (a liquid or a gas), the buoyant force (upthrust force) on the
object is equal to the weight of fluid displaced by the object.

The principle is most frequently

applied to the behaviour of objects in
water, and helps to explain floating and
sinking, and why objects seem lighter in
water. It also applies to balloons in the air.

When you place a block of
wood in a pail of water, the
block displaces some of
the water, and the water
level goes up. If you could
weigh the water that the
wood displaces, you would
find that its weight equals
the weight of the wood.
This doesn't mean that if you had a few
blocks of wood that were exactly the
same size and shape, they would each
displace the same amount of water. A
block of wood made of oak, for
example, sits deeper in the water (and
therefore displaces more of the water)
than does a block of pine. The reason
is that it's heavier for its size, or
denser—in this case, the molecules
that make it up are more closely
packed together than the molecules
that make up the pine.
Archimedes’ Principle applies to either full or partial immersion (i.e.
a “sinking” or “floating” object)
 Why can ships float?

A steel ship can encompass a great deal of empty space

and so have a large volume and a relatively small density.

Weight of ship = weight of water displaced

 THINK!!!!!

warm fresh cold fresh warm sea cold sea

water water water water

Why the depth of ship immersed in the water different?

 Fresh water less dense than sea water and warm water
less dense than coldwater so warm fresh water need to be
displaced more to keep the uptrust force equal with
weight of the boat so it still can float.
 If the plasticine is formed into a ball, it will sink.
But when it is formed into a hull it will float. Why?
BECAUSE…..
Example

If a stone of mass 250 g is thrown in water. Calculate

the buoyant force acting on it?

Given: Mass of stone m = 0.25 kg,

The buoyant force is given by F = mg
= 0.25 × 9.8
= 2.45 N.

Hence 2.45 N of upward force is acting on the stone.

We can practice figuring out the buoyant force using a beach ball and a
big tub of water. Our beach ball has a volume of 14,130 cm3.
The weight of the beach ball in air is 1.5 N.

Have you ever tried to hold a beach ball underwater? It

takes a lot of effort! That is because as you submerge
more of the beach ball, the more the buoyant force
acting on the ball pushes it up. Let’s calculate the
buoyant force on our beach ball if we push it all the way
under the water.
Completely submerged, the beach ball displaces 14,130
cm3 of water. Archimedes principle tells us that the
buoyant force on the ball is equal to the weight of that
water: 14,130 cm3 of water = 14,130 grams = 14.13 kg
weight = mass x force of gravity per kg = (14.13 kg) x 9.8
N/kg = 138 N
If the buoyant force is pushing up with 138 N, and the
weight of the ball is only 1.5 N, your pushing down on
the ball supplies the rest of the force, 136.5 N.
Application of Archimedes’
Principle
 Hot air balloon
APPLICATIONS 1. rises upwards
(Upthrust > Weight of hot air (helium
gas) + weight of airship fabric +
weight of gondola + weight of
passengers.)( balloon expand)

2..descends
(Upthrust < Weight of hot air (helium
gas) + weight of airship fabric +
weight of gondola + weight of
passengers.)(balloon shrinks)

3. stationary
(Upthrust = Weight of hot air (helium
gas) + weight of airship fabric +
weight of gondola + weight of
passengers.)( balloon size
unchanged)
 Airship

Air ship is filled with helium gas.

Helium gas has density lower than the surrounding air, hence
an upthrust which higher than the weight of the airship can be
produced and cause the airship float in the air.
 PLIMSOLL LINE OF THE SHIP

The density of sea water varies with

location and season. To ensure that a
ship is loaded within safe limits , the
Plimsoll line marked on the body of the
ship acts as a guide.

It indicates how much load is allowed at

different types of water.
 SUBMARINE

If ballast tanks empty Upthrust > weight submarine rises to surface

If ballast tanks full Upthrust < weight submarine sinks to bottom
 Hydrometer

Lead shot: to make it float upright . To lower

down the centre of gravity of the hydrometer.
The hydrometer will topple if the centre gravity An hydrometer is an instrument
of the hydrometer is above the surface of the used to measure the density of a
liquid. liquid.

In a liquid of lesser density , the hydrometer is more

submerged.
The hydrometer floats higher in a liquid of higher density.
Forces Acted On Objects
Immersed In Liquid
Case 1:

The density of the object is lower than

the density of the liquid.

The object floats on the surface of the

water.
F
The forces acting on the object is
a) the weight of the object(W)
Object b) the upthrust (F)

Forces are in equilibrium, hence

W

F=W
 Case 2:
The density of the object is greater
than the density of the liquid. The
object sink to the bottom of the water.

Lying on the bottom of the water, there

is a normal reaction acted on the
object.

The forces acting on the object are

a) the weight of the object(W)
b) the upthrust (F)
R F
c) Normal reaction (R)

Forces are in equilibrium, hence

Object

F+R=W
W
 Case 3:

The density of the object is greater

than the density of the liquid.

The object is hold by a string so that it

String does not sink deeper into the water.

The forces acting on the object is

a) the weight of the object (W)
T F b) the upthrust (F)
c) Tension of the string (T)

Object Forces are in equilibrium, hence

W
F+T=W
 Case 4:

The density of the object is lower than

the density of the liquid. The object is
hold by a string so that it does not
move up to the surface of the water.

The forces acting on the object are

a) the weight of the object(W)
F b) the upthrust (F)
c) Tension of the string (T)

Object Forces are in equilibrium, hence

W
String
F=W+T
T
An object of mass 0.5 kg is made from material of density 4000 kg.m-3
and suspended by a string so that it is totally immersed in a liquid of
density 1500 kg.m-3. Find the tension in the string.
Bernoulli’s Principle
 Bernoulli’s Principle:
• A Swiss
scientist born
in 1700’s that
is most famous
for his work in
fluid pressure.
 Bernoulli’s
Principle

As the speed of a fluid increases,

the pressure in the fluid decreases.

P α 1/v
 Bernoulli’s Principle

Bernoulli’s Principle states that for uniform

flow of a fluid, region of high velocity
corresponds to low pressure whereas region of
low velocity corresponds to high
pressure.
Bernoulli’s Principle
 A paper will be lifted
Low Pressure
upwards when air is
blown rapidly above it.

High Pressure

Explanation:

Air move rapidly above the paper, causes the pressure above the
paper to decrease.

Pressure below the paper becomes relatively higher.

Owing to the difference of the pressure, a net force is produced to
push the paper upward.
 High Pressure
When air is blown rapidly
between the 2 ping pong
balls, the 2 balls will
move towards each
other.
Low Pressure

Explanation:

Air move rapidly between the 2 balls, causes the pressure between
the 2 balls to decrease.

Pressure at the other side of the balls becomes relatively higher, push
the 2 ball close to each other.
 Explanation:

Air above the ping pong ball flow rapidly,

causes the pressure above the ping pong ball
The ping pong ball will to decrease.
not fall when air is
allowed to flow through As a result, the pressure below the ping pong
the filter funnel. ball is relatively higher.

Owing to the difference of the pressure, a net

force is produced to push the ping pong ball
upward.
 Figure above shows that water flows through a horizontal tube from
left to right. The velocity of water …………… gradually from left side
of the tube to the right side of the tube. The water pressure is
………… on the left side of the tube than the right side of the tube.
This can be seen from the gradual decrease in water column of the
vertical tubes P, Q and R. The relationship between velocity and
pressure is in accordance to Bernoulli’s
Principle.
 Air flows through a horizontal tube as shown in the figure causing
water columns to rise in three vertical glass tubes. Compare and
tabulate the value of air velocity and pressure in the three positions
A, B and C of the horizontal tubes.
A B C
VELOCITY High
PRESSURE Moderate
Application of Bernoulli’s
Principle
 Aeroplane

When a wing in the form of an aerofoil moves in air, the flow of air over
the top travels faster and creates a region of low pressure. The flow of air
below the wing is slower resulting in a region of higher pressure.

The difference between the pressures at the top and underside of the
wing causes a net upward force, called lift, which helps the plane to take-
off.
 Question:

There are slat in front and

flaps at the back of the
wings of an aeroplane.
Describe with the aid of a
diagram how the slat and
flaps of the wings help in
lifting the aeroplane when
the aeroplane starts to
depart.

Answer:

When the aeroplane starts to depart, the slat and flaps are stretched and
spread out to increase the surface area of the wings.
This increases the lifting force acting on the aeroplane.
 A person who stands near a railway feels like falling into it when
suddenly a train moves with a high speed passes him. It is because
the velocity of the air in front of him increases.
According to Bernoulli’s Principle, the pressure of the moving air
decreases as the speed of the air increases. The higher
atmospheric pressure behind pushes him forward.
 Insecticide Spray

Explanation:

When the plunger is pushed in, the air flows at a high velocity through
a nozzle. The flow of air at high velocity creates a region of low
pressure above the metal tube.

The higher pressure of the atmospheric air acts on the surface of the
liquid insecticide causing it to rise up the metal tube.

The insecticide leaves the top of the metal tube through the nozzle as
a fine spray.
 Sports - Curving Ball

In some of the sport such as football, a player can make the ball move
in a curve path by spinning the ball. This effect can be explained by
Bernoulli's Principle.
Bunsen Burner

Explanation:

When the burner is connected to a gas

supply, the gas flows at high velocity
through a narrow passage in the burner,
creating a region of low pressure.

The outside air, which is at atmospheric

pressure, is drawn in and mixes with the
gas.

The mixture of gas and air enables the

gas to burn completely to produce a
clean, hot, and smokeless flame
 Carburetor
When the engine is switched
on, air is sucked into the
venture tube.

Fast moving air in the narrow

section of the tube causes a
low pressure at this region.

The higher atmospheric

pressure in the petrol
compartment will push the
petrol into the region.

The petrol will mix with air

A carburetor is a device that blends air and before it flows into the
fuel for an internal combustion engine. Figure
cylinder engine for
beside shows how Bernoulli's principle is
applied in a carburetor to mix the air with the
combustion.
fuel.
 Explain why 2 fast moving boats tend to move
closer to each other.

When the two boats travel at high speed, the stream of fluid (air and
water) between the boats flow faster than the other sides of the boats.
This form a low pressure zone in between the boats.
The higher pressure at the other sides of the boat pushes the boats
closer to each other.
Filter Pump
Water from a tap flows at
high speed out of the jet of
water (nozzle).

According to Bernoulli’s
Principle , the pressure of
the moving air decreases
as the speed of the air
increases.

The higher air pressure in

the vessel ‘pumps’ air from
the side tube to which the
vessel is connected.
Practice Questions
Example1: Calculate the density of a stone of mass 250
g if its volume is 100 cm3

Example 2: Abu’s weight is 60 kg, when he is totally

immersed in a tank of water, the
water level raise by 55 liter. Calculate the density.
A balloon is situated at 10 m below sea level, what is the total
pressure experience by the balloon ?
[ The density of sea water is 1100 kg m-3 ]
Atmospheric pressure at sea level : Patm = 1.0 x105 Pa
Water with density of 1 g cm-3 and oil
are filled into a U-tube. What is the
density of the oil ?
The figure shows a glass tube filled
with 50cm height of liquid M and
30cm height of liquid N. The densities
of liquid M and N are 1000kgm-3 and
2500kgm-3 respectively. By giving
g=10ms-2, what is the pressure of

a) liquid M at point x
b) liquid M and N at point y
If the atmospheric pressure is 76 cm Hg, what is the
pressure of the trapped air P ?
Diagram shows a set up of
apparatus for measuring
atmospheric pressure
(a) What is the name for the
instrument?
(b) Determine the atmospheric
pressure as measured by the
instrumen,
1. in the cm Hg unit
2. in the Pa unit

(c) State the change of length of the mercury column above the mercury
surface
(i) The tube is raised by 10cm: ………
(ii) The surrounding temperature increases: …………
(iii) The instrument is brought to the peak of a mountain: …………
(iv) Water vapor is brought to the vacuum region: ………………
The figure below shows a simple barometer
used in the laboratory to measure atmospheric
pressure. The length of the glass tube is 100
cm. The height of a vacuum column is 10 cm
and the height of the mercury column is 76
cm.

a) What is a value of the atmospheric pressure

in cm Hg ?
b) What is the pressure at point X in cm Hg ?
c) If the density of a mercury is 1.36 x 104 kg m-
3 and the g = 10 m s-2. Calculate the pressure

at X in Pascal.
a) Atmospheric pressure = 76 cm Hg.
b) Pressure at point X = ( 76 + 14 ) cm Hg
= 90 cm Hg.
c) Pressure at point X in Pascal
P = hρg
= 0.90 m x 1.36 x 105 kg m-3 x 10 m s-2.
= 1.224 x 106 Pa.
A mercury manometer with one end attached to
a gas supply measures a difference in the level
of mercury of 32 cm as shown in the figure.

Calculate the pressure of a gas supply in

a) cm Hg
b) pascal
( Atmospheric pressure = 76 cm Hg, g = 10 m s -2 and
density of mercury = 1.36 x 104 kg m-3 )

Solution :
a) P gas = Atmospheric pressure + Pressure the column of mercury.
= ( 76 + 32 ) cm Hg
= 108 cm Hg.

b) P gas = 1.08 m x 1.36 x 105kg m-3 x 10 m s-2.

= 1.47 x 106 Pa.
 Archimedes’ Principle

Suppose we weigh an object in air (1) and in water (2).

How do these weights compare?

A) W1 < W2 B) W1 = W2 C) W1 > W2

Why? W1 W2?
Since the pressure at the
bottom of the object is greater
than that at the top of the object,
the water exerts a net upward
force, the buoyant force, on the
object.
A submarine can sail on the sea surface and under the sea.
Explain how a submarine on the surface submerges.