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Physics · Motion, forces & energy

Pressure

CIE 06251 min read

Pressure – Force per unit area

The larger the force, the more pressure The smaller the area, the more pressure

Everyday applications:

  • A sofa has more pressure than an empty box.
  • Heels have more pressure than flats on the floor.

Pressure in fluids / liquids

  • Pressure increases with depth.
  • Pressure acts in all directions. For a submarine this means that pressure is being exerted equally on all parts of the hull.
  • Pressure increases as density increases.
  • Pressure doesn’t depend on the shape of container. The pressure at any particular depth is the same whatever the shape or width of the container.

Air Pressure

  • Air pressure in the atmosphere acts in all directions.
  • Air pressure gets less as you rise up through the atmosphere. The atmosphere is denser at lower levels.
  • Measured using a barometer.

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