4Ch 06 F2-BI(125-131).

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Learning Objective
6.1 Understanding air pressure
INQUIRY Air pressure
6.1 EXPERIMENT Inquiry-Discovery

AIM To show that air exerts pressure

MATERIALS Drinking glass, thick cardboard, water
PROCEDURE 1 Fully fill a glass with water and press a piece of thick cardboard on the surface of the
water.
2 Invert the glass without removing your hand from the cardboard.
3 Release your hand from the cardboard that supports the water.
4 Record your observations.

glass

water

cardboard
CHAPTER

OBSERVATION Water in the glass did not spill out .

6

ANALYSIS 1 What acts on the thick cardboard to support the water in the glass?
Air pressure

2 In the diagram below, draw an arrow (→) to show the direction of air pressure acting
on the cardboard.

glass

water
thick
cardboard

CONCLUSION Air exerts pressure .

6.1 LO • Explain the existence of air pressure with reference to the
Kinetic Theory 126
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INQUIRY
6.2 EXPERIMENT
Factors that influence air pressure Inquiry-Discovery

AIM To determine the factors that influence air pressure

MATERIALS Balloon, rubber band, dented ping-pong ball, hot water
APPARATUS Glass
PROCEDURE
Atmospheric pressure
dented changes widely on the
ping-pong Earth.These variations are
ball the fundamental in
studying weather and
hot water climate.
glass

Diagram (a) Diagram (b)

1 Blow up a balloon and tie its mouth tightly with a rubber band.
2 Press hard on both sides of the balloon with your hands as shown in Diagram (a) and record
if you can feel the pressure inside the balloon.
3 Put a dented ping-pong ball into hot water as shown in Diagram (b) and record your
observation.

OBSERVATION Activity Observation

CHAPTER
1 Balloon is pressed. Pressure inside the balloon is felt.
2 Dented ping-pong ball is put
The ping-pong ball becomes spherical again .
into hot water.

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ANALYSIS 1 What happens to the volume of air in the balloon when it is pressed?
Decreases

2 How is the air pressure influenced by the volume of air?

TSTS
The smaller the volume of air, the higher the air • Relating

pressure.
3 What happens to the air particles in the ping-pong ball when it is heated?
The air particles move faster and collide more frequently

with the wall of the ping-pong ball.

TSTS
4 What is the effect of heat on the air pressure in the ping-pong ball?
• Relating
The air pressure in the ping-pong ball increases when the
ball is heated .

CONCLUSION The pressure of air is influenced by the volume and temperature of the air.

6.2 LO • Explain the existence of air pressure with reference to the

Kinetic Theory 127
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Learning Objective
6.2 Applying the principle of air pressure
DISCUSSION Air pressure
6.3 Activity Contextual

Study the laboratory activity below and draw the expected observation in the box provided. Then, fill in
the blanks with the suitable words.

higher compresses reduced pressure

cold water is poured

The air pressure inside the can is
onto the can reduced higher
. The
stopper
air pressure outside the can,
compresses
the can. This
water activity shows that air exerts
pressure
.
heat

THINKING Application of the principle of air pressure

6.4 Activity STS
CHAPTER

Mark the following symbols on the Symbols

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instruments which make use of

the principle of air pressure. • L.P. – lower air pressure region
• H.P.– higher air pressure region
• ↓↓ – action of air pressure
1 Siphon piston
H.P. (if operating)
2 Syringe L.P.
H.P.
L.P.
water water

3 Drinking straw water is sucked up 4 Pouring liquids L.P.

H.P. L.P. from a can
H.P.

water

5 Suction pump 6 Dropper rubber teat

L.P. H.P.
L.P.
dirt
H.P.

6.3 LO • Explain with examples things that use the principle of air 6.4 LO • Generate ideas to solve problems using the principle of air
pressure 128 pressure
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Dear students,
This section contains questions with
frequently asked concepts and facts
in the PMR examination. Master these
concepts and facts by answering
the following questions.

1 Draw the direction of the air pressure that 2 Draw the observation of the following experiment.
acts on the cardboard. cold water

glass

water

cardboard
heat
Diagram 1 Diagram 2
3 Air pressure in a closed container will increase 4 State factors that influence gas pressure.
when,
The volume of gas
(a) the number of gas particles (increase, decreases). (a)
The temperature
(b) the volume of the container (increases, decreases). (b)
(c) the gas is (heated, cooled).

5 Name these devices. Mark ‘H’ to show high pressure area and ‘L’ to show low pressure area.

CHAPTER
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Suction
Siphon
Syringe pump
H H

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Drinking
straw L
L H
H

L
L

dirt H

Diagram 3
6 Complete the following statement.

cooled
Gas will change to liquid if it is or placed under
high pressure
, such as in a gas cylinder.

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PMR Enhancement Corner 6

Paper 1
Each question is followed by four options A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer.
1 I K 8 syringe piston
L Q
air is K M II L
blown
N III M R P
push in
Diagram 1 A I and II only
B I and III only balloon
When air is blown into the rolled-up
C II and III only Diagram 5
paper tube, the tube straightens out
D I, II and III A Diagram 5 shows an experiment on
as shown in Diagram 1. At which of
the points K, L, M, and N is the air air pressure. When the piston is
5 A gas can be changed to liquid state pushed in, the balloon contracts.
pressure highest?
by This is because
A K C M
I cooling it A the air pressure at P is lower
B L D N C
II compressing it than the air pressure at R
III boiling it B the air pressure at P is equal to
2 A dented ping-pong ball becomes
A I and II only the air pressure at Q
spherical again when it is put into
B I and III only C the air pressure at Q is lower
hot water. This is because
C II and III only than the air pressure at R
A the wall of the ping-pong ball
D I, II and III A D the air pressure at Q is higher
expands
B the pressure inside the ping-pong than the air pressure at P
6 A D
ball increases CLONE
2006
C the ping-pong ball reacts with glass
CHAPTER

cold air water 9

D the air pressure outside the ping- D
P
pong ball is higher than that
B suction pump
inside it B thick
cardboard
6

3 The pressure of a gas inside a C dirt

R
container can be reduced by Diagram 3
S
I increasing the volume of Among the directions A, B, C and D,
container which is the direction of air pressure Diagram 6
II decreasing the amount of gas that supports the cardboard and the Which of the following P, Q, R and S,
III cooling the container glass? are areas of low pressure and high
A I and II only C
pressure to enable the dirt to be
B I and III only removed from the clogged pipe?
7
C II and III only Low High
D I, II and III D A syringe
pressure pressure
A P Q
4 sucked piston
B P S
K B
C R Q
C
L
D Q S D
beaker D
M water
water 10 Among the following, what happens
to the gas particles in a closed
Diagram 4
container that is being cooled?
Diagram 2 Of the points A, B, C, and D, which is A Size increases
Of the holes at K, L, M, and N shown the area of low pressure to enable B Mass decreases
in the diagram, which hole prevents water to be sucked into the syringe? C Move more slowly
water from being sucked out of the B D Hit the walls more often C
beaker?

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Paper 2
Section A
Answer all the questions.

The figure above shows an activity to study air pressure.

(a) What will happen if the hand X is removed?
The water remains in the can/The water does not spill out

(b) Draw an arrow (:) in the diagram below to show the direction that air pressure acts on the cardboard.
→

CHAPTER
(c) What conclusion can be made from this activity?
Air exerts pressure

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to filter ←
pump
→
→

→ plastic
X bottle
air →
→

The diagram above shows an experiment carried out to study the effect of air pressure.
(a) What can you observe after awhile?
The plastic bottle becomes dented.

(b) Give an inference to your answer in (a).

The air pressure inside the bottle is reduced.

(c) Mark X in the diagram above to show the location of lower air pressure.
(d) Draw arrows (→) in the diagram above to show the action of air pressure on the plastic bottle.

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