3.

2 Understanding
Pressure in Liquid
CHAPTER 3 FORCES AND PRESSURE

Learning Outcomes
Relate depth to pressure in a liquid
Relate density to pressure in a liquid
Explain pressure in a liquid and state
that
Describe applications of pressure in
Liquids
Solve problems involving pressure in
Liquid

What is Pressure in Liquid?

A liquid in a container exerts pressure
because of its weight.
Pressure in liquid acts in all directions.

Characteristics of Pressure in a liquid.

The pressure at any point in a liquid, at a
particular depth, acts equally inall directions.
NOT
The pressure in a liquid does __________
area
depend on the __________of
its surface.
The pressure in a liquid acts equally in all
direction and does not depend on the shape
of the container.

Experiments 3.1
Variation of pressure with the depth of a liquid
Aim: to investigate the relationship between
the pressure in a liquid with the depth of the
liquid.
Hypothesis:
Variables: (a) Manipulated

(b)Responding
(c)Fixed

 Note: The pressure at a depth, y of the liquid is

represented by the distance spurts out from its
point.

 Procedure:
1. Measure the depth of the each hole of the
tank.
2. Fill the water in the tank to make sure
the
pressure inside the tank is equal all the
time.
3. Observe what happen next.
4. Measure the distance of the water spourts.

Tabulation data:
Depth, h (cm)

Graph:

y (cm)

Relate depth to pressure in a liquid

The pressure in a liquid is directly
proportional to the depth.
The pressure in a liquid increases with
depth.

Pressure in liquid depends

only on itsvertical
distancefrom the surface
of the liquid.
Pressure at A = Pressure
at B

Relate density to pressure in a liquid

The pressure in a liquid is directly
proportional to the density of the liquid

Deriving the formula for Pressure in a

liquid
The container on the right has a base area A.
It is filled to a depth h with a liquid of
density . Calculate:
Ah
(a) Volume

(b) mass of liquid

(c) weight of liquid

(d) force on base

(e) pressure

Describe applications of pressure in

Theliquids
wall of a dam is
much thicker at the
bottom than at the top
Because?
The water at the
bottom of the damn
is at a higher
pressure than at the
top.

Describe applications of pressure in

liquids

A water tank is placed at higher level so that the

water will have sufficient pressure to flow to
consumers.
Every home has a water tank above the roof for
storage and provided a constant water pressure

Describe applications of pressure in

liquids
Submarine is built with thick wall so as to
withstand enormous pressure at grater depth.

Describe applications of pressure in

liquids

The liquid solution is at a high pressure so it

has sufficient pressure to flow into the veins
of the patient.

Figure (a) shows a container of herbal

tea. Explain why the tea flows out of the
tap at a fast speed.
The depth of water
is high, so the water
pressure is high. The
atmospheric
pressure in the
container also push
the water.

Explain why when there is very little tea left in the

container, it is easier for the tea to flow out of the tap
when the container is tilted as shown in figure (b).

The depth of water is

higher if it is tilted,
so the water
pressure is higher.
So the water is easy
to flow out.

Why does the water pressure from a tap at the top floor
is lower than the water pressure from a tap at the bottom
floor of an apartment?

The tap at the top

floor is at a higher
level, so the depth is
deeper and the water
pressure is higher.

Solve problems involving pressure in

liquid

1. If the density of water is 1000 , what is the

pressure due to the water at the bottom of a
swimming pool 2 m deep?

P=
= (1 000) x (10) x (2) = 20 000 Pa

 2. Given that the density of mercury is 13

600 . Calculate the pressure of mercury at a
point 40 cm from the mercury surface.

P=
=(13 600) x (10) x (0.4) = 54 400 Pa

 The figure shows a cross section of a dam.

The density of water in the dam is 1000 .
The pressure exerted by the water at X is

P=
=(1000) x (10) x (4) = 40 000 Pa

A deep-sea diver is wearing a watch that can withstand a maximum pressure of 4.5
x Pa due to the sea water. [Density of the sea water = 1030 kg , g = 10 N ]
Calculate the maximum depth the diver can dive without spoiling the watch.

4.5 x = (1 030) x (10) x (h)

h = 4 500 000/ 10 300

= 436.89
= 437 m

In the diagram on the right:

How does the pressure at A
compare with the pressure at B?
How does the pressure at B
Pressure at B is higher
compare with the pressure at D?
How does the pressure at A
compare with the pressure at C?

Equal

Equal

Calculate the pressure at B due to the

P water.
= 1000 x 10 x 2 = 20 000 Pa
If the water in the system
were replaced with
paraffin, how would this
affect the pressure at B?
Decrease because
paraffin is less dense
than water.

The figure shows a bottle filled with 40 cm height of liquid A and 70 cm height of liquid B. The
densities of liquid A and liquid B are 1000 kg and 2500 kg respectively. What is the pressure of
liquid A at point P?
liquid A and liquid B at point

P = 1000 x 10 x 0.4 = 4 000 Pa

P = 4 000 + (2500 x 10 x 0.7)
= 21 500 Pa

Calculate the pressure at X level.

P = 1000 x 10 x (4 + 10) = 140 000 Pa

Conclusion
Characteristics of Liquid Pressure
Pressure in liquid does not depends on
the shape of the container.

 Characteristics of Liquid Pressure

Pressure in liquid does not depends on
the shape of the container.
the size of the container

 Characteristics of Liquid Pressure

Pressure in liquid does not depends on
the shape of the container.
the size of the container
the area of its surface.

 Characteristics of Liquid Pressure

Pressure in liquid does not depends on
the shape of the container.
the size of the container
the area of its surface.
Pressure increases with depth

 Characteristics of Liquid Pressure

Pressure in liquid does not depends on
the shape of the container.
the size of the container
the area of its surface.
Pressure increases with depth
Pressure depends on the vertical depth, but not the length
of liquid column.

 Characteristics of Liquid Pressure

Pressure in liquid does not depends on
the shape of the container.
the size of the container
the area of its surface.
Pressure increases with depth
Pressure depends on the vertical depth, but not the length of liquid
column.

All points at the same level in a liquid are at the same pressure

 Characteristics of Liquid Pressure

Pressure in liquid does not depends on

the shape of the container.
the size of the container
the area of its surface.

Pressure increases with depth

Pressure depends on the vertical depth, but not the length of liquid
column.

All points at the same level in a liquid are at the same pressure

Pressure does not depend on the surface area of the

object.

 Characteristics of Liquid Pressure

Pressure in liquid does not depends on

the shape of the container.
the size of the container
the area of its surface.

Pressure increases with depth

Pressure depends on the vertical depth, but not the length of liquid column.

All points at the same level in a liquid are at the same pressure

Pressure does not depend on the surface area of the object.

Pressure acts in all direction