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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Pressure

Test Yourself 7.1 (page 126)

1. With a thin cutting edge, the contact area of the knife with the object being cut is very small. This
allows a larger pressure to be applied on the object (i.e. a larger force is exerted per unit area),
compared to if a knife with a thicker cutting edge were used.

2. Minimum pressure
The minimum pressure occurs when the
block is placed on its face with the largest
area.
force
Pressure p =
area 3.0 cm
10.5 N 8.0 cm
=
0.08 m 0.15 m
15.0 cm
= 875 Pa

Maximum pressure
The maximum pressure occurs when the
block is placed on its face with the smallest
area.
force
Pressure p =
area 15.0 cm
10.5 N
=
0.03 m 0.08 m
= 4375 Pa
3.0 cm
8.0 cm

Quick Check (page 128)

The fish will experience greater pressure in the small, deep pond. This is because there is a taller
column of water above the fish in the small, deep pond than in the large, shallow pond. Pressure is also
independent of cross-sectional area.

Test Yourself 7.2 (page 132)

1. Depth h of water = 20 cm = 0.20 m

3
Density of water = 1000 kg m
1
Gravitational field strength g = 10 N kg
Thus, pressure p on base
= hg
3 1
= 0.20 m 1000 kg m 10 N kg
= 2000 Pa
20 cm
100 cm
Force F acting on base = p A
2 2
= 2000 N m (2 1) m
200 cm
= 4000 N
(Note: The force F acting on the base is equivalent to the weight of the water.)

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 7

F
2. (a) The pressure exerted on liquid by small piston is pS = .
a
(b) The pressure of the liquid is transmitted to the large piston.
F
The pressure exerted on large piston by liquid is pL = pS = .
a
(c) The total force exerted by load L and the weight W of the large piston is (L + W).
Since pL = pS,
L+W F
=
A a
FA
Hence, L = W
a
The energy used to press down the small piston is used to do work to push up the load and the
weight of the large piston. Eventually, this energy is converted to the gravitational potential
energy of the load and large piston.

Quick Check (page 136)

(a) Let the height of the water column be h.

Using p = hg,
5 2 3 1
1.013 10 N m = h 1000 kg m 10 N kg
h = 10.1 m
(b) The density of water is much lower than that of mercury. Thus, for the same atmospheric
pressure, the column of a water barometer is much taller than that of a mercury barometer.

Test Yourself 7.3 (page 139)

1. (a) Let the height of the water column be h.

Using p = hg,
5 2 3 1
1.013 10 N m = h 1000 kg m 10 N kg
h = 10.1 m
(b) If air were trapped at the top of the mercury column in a barometer, the column of mercury
would be shorter in height (i.e. less than 760 mm) as the trapped air exerts a pressure on
the mercury column.
(Note: The sum of the pressure due to the trapped air and pressure due to the mercury
column is equal to the atmospheric pressure.)

2. Let pNe be the pressure of the neon gas.

At equilibrium,
pressure at X = pressure at Y
pNe = p0 + 20 cm Hg h = 20 cm
pNe = 76 cm Hg + 20 cm Hg
pNe = 96 cm Hg neon
X Y
Hence, the pressure of the neon gas is 96 cm Hg.

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 7

3. At equilibrium,
gas at pressure pg
pressure at A = pressure at B
pg + 10 cm Hg = p0
pg + 10 cm Hg = 76 cm Hg
p0
pg = 66 cm Hg

Hence, the pressure pg of the gas is 66 cm Hg.

10 cm
A B

mercury

Get It Right (page 140)

(a) False
Pressure is defined as the force acting per unit area.
(b) False
According to the equation p = hg, the pressure of a liquid increases with both the depth and
density of the liquid.
(c) False
In a hydraulic press, the pressure of the liquid on both pistons is equal. The force acting on the
larger piston is greater in magnitude than the force acting on the smaller piston (assuming there
is no friction).
(d) True
(e) True

Lets Review (page 140)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

1. A
Force = pressure area
2 2
= 100 000 N m (0.5 0.4) m
= 20 000 N
= 20 kN

2. D
h 1 1g = h 2 2g
3 3
0.05 m 13600 kg m g = h2 840 kg m g
h2 = 0.81 m = 81.0 cm

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 7

3. C
The pressure in the column decreases as the height within the column increases.

zero atmospheric
pressure

lower than atmospheric pressure

atmospheric pressure

higher than atmospheric pressure

4. A
Pressure of gas Y + 5 mm Hg = pressure of gas X
Pressure of gas X pressure of gas Y = 5 mm Hg

Section B: Structured Questions

3 3
1. (a) Density of liquid = 1.3 g cm = 1300 kg m
1
Gravitational field strength g = 10 N kg
Height h1 of liquid above top of cylinder = 10 cm = 0.1 m

Pressure p1 acting on top of cylinder = h1g

3 1
= (0.1 m)(1300 kg m )(10 N kg )
= 1300 Pa
(b) Height h2 of liquid above bottom of cylinder = 30 cm = 0.3 m
Pressure p2 acting on bottom of cylinder = h2g
3 1
= (0.3 m)(1300 kg m )(10 N kg )
= 3900 Pa
(c) Pressure difference between ends of cylinder = p2 p1
= 3900 Pa 1300 Pa
= 2600 Pa

2. (a) vertical tube

tank

depth of liquid
= 0.5 m

2 2
base area = 0.01 m base area = 4 m

(b) (i) Pressure due to liquid on base of tank = hg

3 1
= (0.5 m)(1000 kg m )(10 N kg )
= 5000 Pa
(ii) Pressure due to liquid on base of vertical tube = hg
3 1
= (0.5 m)(1000 kg m )(10 N kg )
= 5000 Pa
(c) Total pressure at base of tank = 120 000 Pa + 5000 Pa
= 125 000 Pa

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 7

Section C: Free-Response Questions

1. (a) The pressure exerted by the water in the lake increases with depth. The wall of the dam
must be thicker at the base to balance this larger pressure in order to withstand the larger
force exerted on it.
(b) Liquid pressure increases with depth. For residents on higher storeys, their vertical distance
from the water tanks is shorter, so they experience lower water pressure when they turn on
their taps.

2. Pascals Principle states that if pressure is applied to an enclosed liquid, the pressure will be
transmitted equally to all other parts of the liquid.

When a force FX acts vertically on piston 1, the pressure pX at point X is transmitted equally to
every part of the liquid (Pascals Principle). Thus, the pressure pX at point X would be equal to the
pressure pY at point Y.

i.e. pY = pX

F
By definition, p = .
A
FY FX
=
AY AX

Since AY > AX, therefore FY > FX.

This means that a small force applied on the small piston results in a large force on the large
piston. Thus, Pascals Principle applied in the hydraulic press allows large loads to be lifted with a
small force.

*3. (a) (i) Pressure at P = p0 + hAAg

(ii) Pressure at Q = p0 + hBBg
(b) Since liquids A and B are at rest,
pressure at P = pressure at Q
p 0 + h A Ag = p 0 + h B Bg
h A Ag = h B Bg
h A A = h B B
hB
A =
hA B

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 7

Physics Today (page 142)

1. Singapore is an island surrounded by water. Therefore, there is a ready supply of seawater for
desalination.
Singapore has invested heavily in researching desalination technology and is able to bring
about greater cost savings compared to other countries.
The stages of the desalination process ensure that the quality of the drinking water meets the
strict guidelines set by PUB and WHO.

2. 1. Local catchment areas

2. Imported water
3. NEWater
4. Desalinated water
(Source: http://www.pub.gov.sg/water/Pages/default.aspx)

3. Drinking (about 2 l)
Showering (about 45 l)
Washing clothes (about 30 l)
Washing dishes (about 30 l)
Use at wash basins (about 15 l)
Flushing toilets (about 25 l)
(Note: that Singapore's current per capita domestic water consumption is about 154 l per day.)

Sources:
http://www.pub.gov.sg/conserve/Households/Pages/Watersavinghabits.aspx
http://www.ifaq.gov.sg/mewr/apps/fcd_faqmain.aspx

4. Choose appliances that use less water.

Do not leave taps running.
Instead of running water, use basins or pails of water when washing items.
Take showers instead of baths.
Water plants with water that has been used to rinse rice.

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