CHAPTER – 11

FORCE AND PRESSURE

Subject :- Science(Physics)

Class :- VIII

Topic :- Pressure
 Pressure
→ The effect of the applied force depends on following two factors :-
• The magnitude of force applied – the greater the force, the greater is its effect.
• The area over which the force is applied – the smaller the area of contact, the
greater is its effect.
→ Pressure :- The physical quantity which measures the effect of force per unit
area is called pressure. OR
Pressure is the force acting on a unit area of the object.
• Pressure is directly proportional to the force applied (i.e., if forces increases ,
pressure will also increase and visa versa). → P = F
• Pressure is inversely proportional to Area(i.e., if Area increases , pressure will
decrease and visa versa). → P = 1/A
→ Formulae to calculate pressure (P) = Force(F) / Area(A)
The standard unit of measuring pressure is ‘newton per square metre’ (N/m²) or
Pascals
• When a force acts on an object pressure is produced. If almost equal amount
of force is applied on a piece of wood with a thumb and on a drawing pin
kept on a wooden table, the drawing pin will goes into the wooden table
where as, wooden piece will not. Thus, the effect of force depends on the area
of the object on which it acts.
• pessure
 Applications of Pressure
1). A heavy truck is fitted with six to fourteen tyres these tyres
increases the area of contact on which their weight acts and
hence, reduce their pressure on the ground.

2). Skiers use long, flat skis to slide over snow. The skis have a
large area of contact which reduces the pressure on the snow
and enables them to slide over the snow without sinking in the
snow.

3). The cutting edge of knives, blades, axes etc are sharp due to which the area of
contact decreases and the pressure exerted by them increases. This large
pressure helps to cut the objects easily.

4). Foundations of high- rise buildings are kept wide, so that

they exert less pressure on the ground and do not sink in due
to the extremely high pressure of the building.
5). A school bag has wide straps made of thick cloth, so that the weight
of the bag may fall over a large area of the shoulder of the child
producing less pressure on the shoulders.

6). A wide steel belt is provided over the wheels of

army tanks, so that they exert less pressure on
the ground and do not sink.

7). Syringes are used to take blood for blood tests. The pressure of the
liquid (blood) forces the liquid to move into the syringe when its
plunger is withdrawn.

8). A vacuum cleaner has a fan inside that creates a low pressure
inside the device. Consequently, air and dirt particles are sucked into
the device.

9). When air is sucked out of a drinking straw the air pressure inside if
decreases and the atmospheric pressure outside forces the liquid
to go inside the straw.
 Pressure Exerted by Liquids
• All liquids have weight. So, when you pour a liquid into a vessel, the weight of
liquid contained in the vessel exerts pressure on its wall and bottom. Pressure
exerted by a liquid on the walls of the container is called its lateral pressure.
Activity :- In the given figure the pressure at the top is low. So, the water is falling
near the base of the vessel. At the middle hole the pressure
exerted is medium. So, the water is falling little far from
the base of the vessel. Pressure exerted is very high at the
bottom hole. So, the water goes farthest from the container.
This shows that liquid pressure increases as the depth
increases.

• Liquid pressure depends on various factors which can also be studied by using a
manometer.
Manometer :- An instrument used for measuring the pressure acting on a column of fluid,
consisting of a U-shaped tube.
Working of a manometer :-
U- tube of a manometer is filled with a liquid. At first the level of the
liquid remains same on both sides. As, pressure is applied through a
thistle funnel. It will push the liquid (in arm A) towards the other side
(i.e., arm B) of the U- tube.
The difference between the water level in the two arms of the U-tube
is the measure of the pressure exerted on the rubber membrane.
Applications of Liquid Pressure
1. The wall of a dam is made thicker at the
bottom because pressure increases with
depth. A thicker wall can withstand a
Greater pressure exerted by the water at
greater depth.

2. Water supply tank is placed at a high place in the building

because at a greater height, the pressure of water will be large
enough to force the water to reach the taps of the houses.
 Textual Que./ Ans.
Q1. Explain why astronauts wear specially designed spacesuits.
A). Astronauts wear specially designed spacesuits to protect themselves from the cold,
radiation and low pressure in space. They also provide air to breathe.

Q2. Why is a persons weight on Jupiter three times more than on the earth?
A). The weight of a person on Jupiter is three times more than that on Earth because
Jupiter has three times more gravity than that on Earth.

Q3. Why do mountaineers suffer nose bleeding at high altitudes?

A). The mountaineers suffer nose bleeding at high altitudes because at high altitudes,
the atmospheric pressure is much lesser than our blood pressure. Due to this, some of
the blood capillaries burst and blood comes out through the nose of the mountaineers

Q4. How does atmospheric pressure help in drinking juice with straw?
A). When we suck air at the upper end of the straw with our mouth, the
pressure of the air inside the straw is reduced. But the pressure acting on the
surface of the fruit juice is equal to the atmospheric pressure. So, the greater
atmospheric pressure acting on the surface of the fruit juice pushes the fruit
juice up into the straw to our mouth which helps to drink juice from straw.
 Atmospheric Pressure
Atmosphere :- The layer of air surrounding our earth is called atmosphere. The
air covers several kilometres above the surface of the earth. Air has weight,
so it creates pressure on the objects below.
Atmospheric Pressure :- The pressure exerted by the air due to its own weight
is known as atmospheric pressure.
• We do not feel pressure acting on us because the pressure of the blood in
the blood vessels and other fluids present in the body, balance the
atmospheric pressure.
 Applications of Atmospheric Pressure
1). Syringes are used to take blood for blood tests.
The pressure of the liquid (blood) forces the liquid to
move into the syringe when its plunger is withdrawn.

2). A vacuum cleaner has a fan inside that creates a low pressure inside the device.
Consequently, air and dirt particles are sucked into the device.

3). When air is sucked out of a drinking straw the

air pressure inside if decreases and the atmospheric
pressure outside forces the liquid to go inside the straw.

4). Rubber suction pad :- Rubber suction pads are used on the walls to hang clothes
and calendars. When suction pad is pressed against the smooth plane surface (wall),
the air between the suction pad and the wall is forced out, reducing the pressure inside.
The outer pressure being greater, pushes the suction pad firmly with the wall.
 Textual Que./ Ans.
Q1. Where is the pressure greater,10m or 20m below the surface of the sea? Give
reason.
A). The pressure is greater at 20 m below the surface of the sea because the
pressure of a liquid increases with depth.

Q2. A solid object weighs 250 N. When placed on a wooden plank, the area of
contact is found to be 10m². Find the pressure exerted by the solid object on the
wooden plank.
A). Area of contact = 10 m²
Force exerted by solid body on wooden plank = 250 N
Since, Pressure = Force/Area
∴ Pressure exerted by solid body on the wooden plank
= Force exerted by solid body on wooden plank/Area of contact
∴ = 250/10
= 25 Pa
Q3. Name the forces which can act from a distance.
A) The forces which can act from a distance are called non contact force. Example :
-
i) Gravitational force (ii) Electrostatic force (iii) Magnetic force
Q4. A brick is 32 cm long, 10cm wide and 10 cm thick. It weighs 16N and is lying
on the ground. Find the pressure exerted by the brick on the ground.
A) Force exerted by the brick on the ground = 16 N
Area of brick = l × b = 32 × 10 = 320 cm² = 0.032 m² (1 m=100 cm)
Since, Pressure = Force/Area
∴ Pressure exerted by the brick on the ground
= Force exerted by the brick on the ground/Area of the brick
= (16/0.032) x 1000
= 16000/32 = 500 N/m² or Pa
Q5. A force of 120 N is applied to an object of area 3m2. Calculate the pressure.
A) Given,
Force = 120N, Area = 3m²
Since, Pressure = Force/Area
∴ Pressure = 120/3
= 40 N/m² or 40 Pa
Q6. Explain why an apple dropped from a height always falls down on the earth.
A) An apple dropped from a height always falls on the earth because of the force
of
gravity i.e.; the attraction between the earth and the object.
 Check for understanding
Q1. Fill in the blanks
a). Squeezing of toothpaste can change its ________
b). When two forces act on an object in the same direction,
the resultant force is calculated by _____
c). The total force applied on the object is called ____
force.
d). Frictional force always opposes _______
e). 500g = ______ Newton.
Q2. Name the different types of forces with examples.
Q3. Define :- (a) Force (b) contact force (c) Non contact
force
(d) Balanced force (e) resultant force
Q3. In a horse-cart, each of the two horses pull with a force
of 1000N and 1800N. Find the resultant force.
Q4. What is the resultant force when two equal forces act on
an object in same direction?