3.1.1 Understanding Pressure

  1. The definition of pressure
  2. The formula of pressure (you need this formula to do lot of calculation.)
  3. The SI unit of pressure
  4. Factors affecting the magnitude of pressure

Pressure

Pressure is defined as the force acting normally per unit area. (Here, the word "normally" means perpendicularly.)

   

Example

As shown in the diagram above, a 20N force acts on a 4cm² surface. The force is shared equally by the surface, hence each 1 cm² of the surface withstand a force of 5N (20N/4).

The force (5N) acts on 1 unit area (1cm²) is said to be the pressure acting on the surface. Therefore, the pressure acting on the surface is 5N/cm².

Mathematically,

Unit of Pressure

The SI unit of pressure is Pascal (Pa). 1 Pa is equal to1 newton per metre2 (N/m²).

1 N/m² = 1 Pa

Factors Affecting the Magnitude of Pressure

Factors that affect the pressure acting on a surface.
  1. Magnitude of the force.
    The larger the force, the higher the pressure.
  2. Contact area.
    The larger the contact area, the lower the pressure.

Finding the force acted on a surface when the pressure and surface area are given.

Example:
A force F is acting on a surface of area 20cm², produces a pressure 2500Pa on the surface. Find the magnitude of the force.

Answer:
This is a pretty direct question. We just need to write the formula and then substitute all the related value that we have into the formula and then solve it.

However, we need to be careful about the unit. If the pressure is in Pa, then the unit of area must be in m².

1 m² = 10000 cm²

From the question,
A = 20 cm² = 0.002 m²
P = 2500 Pa


Example 2:

A block of wood 3 m long, 5 m wide and 1 m thick is placed on a table. If the density of the wood is 900 kgm-3, find

a. the lowest pressure
b.the highest pressure

on the table due to the block.

Answer:
a.
Step 1: Finding the weight of the block
The volume of the block = 3 x 5 x 1 = 15m³.

Mass = Density x Volume

Mass of the block, m = (900)(15)= 13500 kg

Weight of the block = mg = 13500 x 10 = 135,000N

Step 2: Determine the surface area
The pressure exerted on a surface is inversely proportional to the area of the surface. The bigger the surface, the lower the pressure.

For the wooden block, the biggest surface, A = 5 x 3 = 15m²

Step 3: Finding pressure
 

b.
The pressure is the highest when the surface area is the smallest.

The smallest surface area of the block = 1 x 3 = 3m²

The highest pressure,


Example 3:
Two cubes made of the same material; one has sides twice as the other, lying on a table. Standing on one face, the small cube exerts a pressure M on the table. What is the pressure (in term of M) exerted by the larger cube standing on one of its faces, on the table?

Answer:

For the small cube,

Surface area = x²
Volume = x³
Mass = m
Weight = mg

Pressure,


For the big cube,
Surface area = 4x²
Volume = 8x³
Mass = 8m (Because the volume is 8 times greater)
Weight = 8mg

Pressure,


 

2.12.5 Factors that Affect the Elasticity Springs


Arrangement in series: Arrangement in parallel:
Extension = x × number of spring
Stiffness decreases
Spring constant = k/number of spring
Extension = x ÷ number of spring
Stiffness increases
Spring constant = k × number of spring

Factors Affecting the Stiffness of Spring

Material type of spring

(A steel spring is stiffer than a copper spring)
Stiffer Less Stiff

Diameter of wire of spring

(The greater the diameter of the wire, the stiffer the spring)
Stiffer Less Stiff

Diameter of the spring

(The smaller the diameter of spring, the stiffer the spring)
Stiffer Less Stiff

Length of the string

(Shorter spring is stiffer)
Stiffer Less Stiff

 

2.12.4 Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in elastic materials as the result of their stretching or compressing.

Formula:


Example:


Diagram above shows a spring with a load of mass 0.5kg. The extention of the spring is 6cm, find the energy stored in the spring.

Answer:
The energy stored in the spring is the elestic potential energy.


 

2.12.2 Hooke’s Law

Hooke's Law states that if a spring is not stretched beyond its elastic limit, the force that acts on it is directly proportional to the extension of the spring.

Elastic Limit

The elastic limit of a spring is defined as the maximum force that can be applied to a spring such that the spring will be able to be restored to its original length when the force is removed.

Equation derived from Hooke's Law

From Hook's Law, we can derived that

Spring Constant

Spring constant is defined as the ratio of the force applied on a spring to the extension of the spring.

It is a measure of the stiffness of a spring or elastic object.

Graph of Streching Force - Extension

Gradient = Spring constant

Area below the graph = Work done

F-x graph and spring constant

The higher the gradient, the greater the spring constant and the harder (stiffer) spring.

For example, the stiffness of spring A is greater than spring B.

 

2.12.1 Elasticity

Elasticity is the ability of a sub-stance to recover its original shape and size after distortion.

Forces Between Atoms

The intermolecular forces consist of an attractive force and a repulsive force.

  • At the equilibrium distance d, the attractive force equal to the repulsive force.
  • If the 2 atoms are brought closer, the repulsive force will dominate, produces a net repulsive force between the atoms.
  • If the 2 atoms are brought furhter, the attractive force will dominate, produces a net attractive force between the atoms.

Graph of Forces Between 2 atoms


x0 = Equilibrium Distance

When the particles are compressed, x < x0, the attractive force between the particles increases.

If the distance x exceeds the elastic limit, the attractive force will decreases.

 

2.11.7 Efficiency

The efficiency of a device is defined as the percentage of the energy input that is transformed into useful energy.


Example:
In the example above, the input power is 100J/s, the desire output power (useful energy) is only 75J/s, the remaining power is lost as undisire output. Therefore, the efficiency of this machine is

Air Conditioner

  1. Switch off the air conditioner when not in use.
  2. Buy the air conditioner with suitable capacity according to the room size.
  3. Close all the doors and windows of the room to avoid the cool air in the room from flowing out.

Refrigerator

  1. Always remember to close the door of refrigerator.
  2. Open the refrigerator only when necessarily.
  3. Always keep the cooling coil clean.
  4. Defrost the refrigerator regularly.
  5. Choose the refrigerator with capacity suitable for the family size.
  6. Refrigerator of large capacity is more efficient compare with refirgerator of small capacity.

Lamp or Light Bulb

  1. Use fluorecent bulb rather than incandescent bulb. Fluorescent bulbs are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs.
  2. Use a lamp with reflector so that more light is directed towards thr desirable place.

Washing Machine

  1. Use front-loading washing machine rather than top-loading wahing machine because it uses less water and electricity.
  2. Use washing machine only when you have sufficient clothes to be washed. Try to avoid washing small amount of clothes.

 

2.11.6 Power

Power is the rate at which work is done, which means how fast a work is done.

It is also a measure of how fast a form energy is converted to another form.

Formula:


Example:
An electric motor takes 20 s to lift a box of mass 20kg to a height of 1.5 m. Find the amount of work done by the machine and hence find the power of the electric motor.

Answer:
Work done,
W = mgh = (20)(10)(1.5) = 300J

Power,


 

2.11.5 Conservation of Energy

During a conversing of energy,

Amount of Work Done = Amount of Energy Converted

Example:
A trolley of 5 kg mass moving against friction of 5 N. Its velocity at A is 4ms-1 and it stops at B after 4 seconds. What is the work done to overcome the friction?

Answer:
In this case, kinetic energy is converted into heat energy due to the friction. The work done to overcome the friction is equal to the amount of kinetic energy converted into heat energy, hence