IGCSE PHYSICS

1.8.1 – Pressure Questions

Work through each of the questions below using the following equations…

Make sure that you select the correct equation, re-arrange it correctly, use
quantities in the equation which have the correct unit and give all answers
with a sensible unit. Good luck!
INTRO questions
1) What is the pressure that a 300 N guitar amplifier exerts on the ground if
it has a base surface area of 0.28 m2?
Pressure = Force/Area
Pressure = 300/0.28
= 1071.428571
= 1070Pa

[2 marks]
2) a) What pressure does a ballerina exert on the ground
if her 480 N weight is exerted on to the floor when she
is on point and only 0.00098 m2 of her dancing shoes
touch the floor?
Pressure = Force/Area
= 480N/0.00098
= 489795.9184
= 490000Pa

[2 marks]
b) The same ballerina stops dancing and stands still to
catch her breath. While she is resting an area of 0.0150 m 2
of her shoes are in contact with the floor. How much
pressure does she exert on the floor now?
Pressure = Force/Area
= 480N/0.0150m^2
= 32000Pa

[2 marks]
3) What is the maximum pressure a plastic children’s chair with a 225 cm 2
(0.0225 m2) seat area can take if a 670 N person sits on it and it then starts to
break?

Pressure = Force/Area
= 670N/0.0225m^2
= 29777.777778
= 30000Pa

[2 marks]
CORE questions
4) How much pressure will a 1.2 kg water bottle exert on the table if it has a
base area of 0.00178 m2?

Pressure = Force/Area
Force = mass x gravitational strength
= 1.2 x 9.81
= 11.772N

Pressure = F/A
= 11.772/0.00178
= 6613.483146
= 6600Pa

[3 marks]
5) A pressure of 42,200 Pa is exerted on a stool when a 51.9 kg pupil sits on it.
What area of the pupils’ bottom is in contact with the top of the stool?

Pressure = Force/Area
42,200 = (51.9x9.81)/A
42,200 = 214.839/A
A = 0.005090971564m^2
A = 5.09x10^-3 Pa
 [3 marks]
6) A lorry crosses over a bridge and exerts a pressure of 1,562,500 Pa on
bridge. If the area of each of the 8 tyres that are in contact with the bridge is
0.0640 m2:
a) How much does the lorry weigh?
Pressure = Force/Area
1562500Pa = Force/0.0640m^2
Force = 100,000N

[2 marks]
b) What is the mass of the lorry?
W = mg
100,000 = m (9.81)
m = 10193.67992
m = 10000kg
[1 mark]
EXPERT questions
7) What is the pressure that a 227 kg horse exerts on the ground if it has 4
hoofs which each have a base surface area of 31 cm 2 = 0.0031 m2?

Pressure = Force/Area
Force = 227 x 9.81
Force = 2226.87N

Area = 0.0031 x 4
Area = 0.0124m^2

Pressure = 2226.87 / 0.0124

[3 marks]
8) A snowboarder has a snowboard which is 1.68 m long and 0.45 m wide. The
mass of the snowboarder is 87.1 kg. What is:
a) The surface area of the snowboard?
1.68 x 0.45
= 0.756m^2
[1 mark]
b) The pressure that he exerts down on the snow?
Pressure = Force/Area
Force = 87.1 x 9.81
Force = 854.451

Pressure = 854.451/0.756
Pressure = 1130.22619
Pressure = 1130Pa
[2 marks]
9) The base of a board rubber exerts a pressure of 1,780 Pa on the glass
whiteboards in L2, as it rubs out. If the dimensions of the base of the board
rubber are 3.0 cm by 12 cm what is the force that is applied to the board
rubber. [HINT: you need the area of the board rubber in metres squared]

Pressure = Force/Area
Pressure = 1780Pa
Area = 3cm x 12cm
Area = 0.03m x 0.12m
Area = 0.0036m^2

1780Pa = Force/0.0036m^2
Force = 6.408N

[3 marks]
DEMANDING questions
10) A centipede has 23 pairs of legs along its body. It exerts a pressure of
49.0 Pa as it stands stationary on a leaf with all of its legs in contact with the
leaf. If the mass of the centipede is 0.075 g, what is:
a) the total surface area of the base of all of the centipede’s legs combined?

Pressure = Force/Area
49Pa = (0.000075 x 9.81)/Area
49 = 7.3575x10^-4/Area
Area = 1.501530612 x 10^-5 m^2
 [3 marks]
b) the surface area of the base of one of the centipede’s legs in m 2?
1.501530612 x 10^-5 / 23
= 6.528393966 x 10^-7m^2

[2 marks]
11) A 68.5 kg woman is skiing. Her skis each have a mass of 6.4 kg and are both
1.82 m long. She exerts a pressure of 2,450 Pa on the snow. What is:
a) the total weight of the woman and her skis?

68.5 + 2(6.4)
= 81.3kg
[1 mark]
b) the total surface area of her skis which are in contact with the snow?
2450 = (81.3x9.81)/Area
2450 = 797.553/Area
Area = 0.3255318367
[2 marks]
c) the width of her skis?
0.3255318367 = 1.82 x width
Width = 0.178863465m
[1 marks]
12) A parachutist is falling down to the ground at a constant speed. Her
perfectly circular parachute is open and has a radius of 2.2 m. If she has a
mass of 63.9 kg and the parachute has a weight of 43 N, what is:
a) the surface area of the parachute (assuming it is a perfect circle)?

Pi r^2
Pi (2.2)^2
= 15.20530844m^2
15.2m^2

[2 marks]
b) the pressure that she and the parachute exert down on the air as she falls?

Pressure = ((63.9 x 9.81)+43)/15.2