Chapter 14: Pressure — Study Notes
1. Pressure on Surfaces (Solids)
● Definition: Pressure is the force acting on a unit area of a surface.
● The Formula:
Pressure=Force/Area
● Units: The SI unit is N/m2 (also known as the Pascal). It can also be
expressed as N/cm2.
● Key Relationship:
○ To INCREASE pressure: Decrease the area (e.g., sharp knives,
needles, studs on football boots).
○ To DECREASE pressure: Increase the area (e.g., wide skis, snow
tires, flat-soled shoes).
2. Pressure in Liquids
● Direction: Unlike solids, pressure in a liquid acts in all directions.
● Depth: Pressure increases as you go deeper. This is because the
weight of the water above pushes down on the layers below.
● Application: Dam walls are built much wider and stronger at the
bottom than at the top to withstand the high pressure at depth.
3. Hydraulics (Force Multipliers)
● Principle: Liquids cannot be compressed (squashed). If you apply
pressure to one part of a trapped liquid, that pressure is transmitted
equally to all parts of the container.
● How it works: 1. Apply a small force to a small piston. 2. The
pressure travels through the liquid. 3. Because the output piston has
a larger area, it produces a much larger force.
● Examples: Car brakes, hydraulic jacks (for lifting cars).
4. Pressure in Gases (Atmospheric Pressure)
● The Atmosphere: A 1000 km layer of air creates a pressure of about
100,000N/m2 at sea level.
● Balance: We aren't crushed because the pressure of our blood and
internal fluids balances the outside air pressure.
● Common Phenomena:
○ Suckers: When air is pushed out from under a sucker, the higher
atmospheric pressure outside holds it against the wall.
○ Ear Popping: Happens when external pressure changes quickly
(like in a plane). Swallowing opens the Eustachian tube to balance
the pressure inside the ear with the outside.
○ Aerosols: High-pressure gas inside the can pushes the liquid out
when the valve is opened.
5. Important Vocabulary
● Vacuum: A space where all air/gas has been removed. (Remember:
Outer air pressure can crush a can if a vacuum is created inside).
● Incompressible: Cannot be squashed (a property of liquids that
makes hydraulics possible).
● CFCs: Chemicals formerly used in aerosols that damage the ozone
layer (now mostly replaced).
“Summary”
Pressure on a Surface
Pressure is a measure of how much force is concentrated on a specific area.
● The Formula: Pressure=Force/Area
● Units: Measured in Newtons per square meter (N/m2) or Newtons per
square centimeter (N/cm2).
● The Relationship: * Large Area = Low Pressure: (e.g., Skis or
snowshoes keep you from sinking into snow).
○ Small Area = High Pressure: (e.g., A sharp knife or a pin point
concentrates force to cut or pierce easily).
2. Pressure in Liquids
In liquids, particles are free to move. This leads to two main rules:
● Direction: Liquid pressure acts in all directions, not just downwards.
● Depth: Pressure increases with depth. The further down you go, the
more weight of liquid there is above you. This is why dams are built
with much thicker walls at the bottom than at the top.
3. Hydraulics (Force Multipliers)
Since liquids cannot be "squashed" (compressed), they transmit pressure
equally throughout a container.
● If you apply a small force to a small piston, that same pressure is
transmitted to a larger piston.
● Because the area of the second piston is larger, the resulting force is
much stronger. This is how car brakes and hydraulic jacks work.
4. Pressure in Gases (Atmospheric Pressure)
The Earth is surrounded by a 1000 km thick layer of air that exerts a massive
pressure of about 100,000 N/m2.
● Why we aren't crushed: Our internal blood pressure pushes back
with equal strength.
● Ear Popping: This happens when the air pressure outside changes
quickly (like climbing a hill), creating a temporary imbalance between
the pressure in your middle ear and the atmosphere.