CIE IGCSE Physics

Topic Questions

1.9 Pressure

11 mark

A woman is in contact with the floor.

q1-easy-mcq-1-9-pressure-cie-igcse-physics

In which of these poses does she produce the most pressure on the floor?

Assume she is wearing flat shoes in each pose.

  • A

  • B

  • C

  • D

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21 mark

Which is an example of a force acting over a small area to produce a large pressure?

  • A skier wearing large skis on snow.

  • A hammer being used to push a nail into a piece of wood.

  • A tractor having very wide tyres.

  • A person lying down, rather than walking upright on a roof.

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31 mark

A water-filled tank is resting on a table as shown in Fig. 1

1-9-3-e--pressure-tank-water

Using the measurements in the diagram, determine the area which should be used to calculate the pressure the tank exerts on the table.

  • 0.25 m2 

  • 0.5 m2 

  • 0.75 m2 

  • 1.0 m2 

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41 mark

The diagram shows four measuring identical cylinders containing either distilled water or concentrated sugar solution.

Which measuring cylinder has the least pressure at the base, due to the liquid?

1-9-4-e-pressure-liquid-measuring-cylinders

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51 mark

Extended

For the tank of water in the diagram below, which value gives the pressure on the base of the tank due to the water?

The density of water = 1000 kg/m3

1-9-5-e-pressure-liquid-tank-of-water-e

  • 5000 Pa

  • 5500 Pa

  • 6000 Pa

  • 6500 Pa

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11 mark

The table gives four combinations of the force applied to a surface and the area over which it acts.

Which row gives the smallest pressure exerted on the surface?

 

Force / N

Area / m2

A

40

0.5

B

40

2.0

C

80

0.5

D

80

2.0

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21 mark

Extended

Three beakers of water are placed on a table. The depth of water in each container is the same.

q2-hard-mcq-1-9-pressure-cie-igcse-physics

In which container does the water exert the greatest pressure on the base of the container?

  • A

  • B

  • C

  • None, the pressure is the same in all three.

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31 mark

A person walking through snow sinks into it.

The person makes a change so that they do not sink as far next time they go out.

What do they do?

  • Crouch as they walk to lower their centre of mass

  • Run as fast as they can to increase the power they dissipate

  • Wear shoes with a much larger area on the bottom to increase the area of their feet in contact with the snow

  • Wear a heavy backpack to increase their weight and so make them more stable .

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41 mark

There is a significant risk to submarines which dive to very great depths.

Why is it dangerous to do this?

  • The temperature of water is too low at greater depths.

  • The density of water is less at greater depths

  • The pressure is too great at greater depths.

  • The gravitational pull increases at greater depths

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51 mark

The ornament in Fig. 1 is designed to balance in either of the positions shown.

Calculate the difference in the pressure on the ground when the ornament's position is changed.

1-9-5-h-pressure-ornament

  • 1000 Pa

  • 1250 Pa

  • 1500 Pa

  • 2000 Pa

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11 mark

A briefcase, with flat, rectangular sides rests on the floor as shown in the diagram.

q1-medium-1-mcq-1-9-pressure-cie-igcse-physics

The briefcase is now turned so that it rests with its large, flat side on the floor.

q1-medium-2-mcq-1-9-pressure-cie-igcse-physics

How has the change affected the force on the floor, and the pressure exerted by the briefcase on the floor?

 

Force

Pressure

A

unchanged

decreased

B

unchanged

unchanged

C

decreased

decreased

D

decreased

unchanged

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21 mark

A small metal block is suspended under the surface of a beaker of water by a string. 

The metal block experiences a pressure exerted by the liquid.

q2-medium-mcq-1-9-pressure-cie-igcse-physics

 What would increase the pressure exerted on the metal block?

  • increasing the surface area of the stone

  • using a liquid with a lower density

  • increasing the mass of the metal block

  • lowering the metal block deeper into the liquid

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31 mark

A wooden block rests on a table.

q3-medium-mcq-1-9-pressure-cie-igcse-physics

On which surface should the block be laid to produce the largest pressure on the table?

  • A

  • B

  • C

  • Any side, they will all produce the same pressure

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41 mark

Extended

For the tank of water in the diagram below, which value gives the pressure on the base of the tank due to the water?

The density of water = 1000 kg/m3

1-9-4-m-pressure-liquid-tank-of-water-m

  • 6500 Pa

  • 6900 Pa

  • 7400 Pa

  • 7900 Pa

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51 mark

What pressure does the object in the diagram below exert on the ground beneath it?

1-9-5-m-pressure-block

  •  4.0 Pa

  • 6.0 Pa

  • 12 Pa

  • 24 Pa

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