1.

RECAPITULATION OF PREVIOUS LESSON

1.1 1.2 Pressure is the force acting normally per unit area. The expression for pressure is p =

1.3 1.4

The S.I. unit of p: Pascal (Pa) or N m The pressure in liquids: (a) (b) acts in all directions increases with depth

1.5

The expression for pressure in liquid is p = h g,

where h is the depth,

is the density of liquid

g is the gravitational field strength

ACTIVITY 1
Glass

Water
Cardboard

Atmospheric pressure

A cardboard is placed over the mouth of a glass filled with water. The glass is then held upside down. Do you know why the water in the glass will not spill out?

ACTIVITY 2

Try to Press The ball Do you feel the air pressure exerting on your thumb? Can you explain how the air pressure is produced?

ACTIVITY 3
Plastic Disc Ball Bearing S Vibration of Piston Glass Tube

Kinetic Theory Model Can you describe the motion of the ball bearings (as gas molecules) in the glass tube? Do you know why the motion of gas molecules produces a pressure?

How does gas exert pressure in an enclosed container?

Gas in a closed vessel will exert pressure. Using kinetic theory, gas consists of molecules which are moving continuously at random motion. Moving gas molecules will hit the inner wall at velocity v and produce momentum mv on the wall. The molecules will bounce back with the same velocity due to elastic collision ,thus produce momentum mv in an opposite direction. A difference in momentum exist at the time of collision. Thus a rate of change in momentum occurs and produce a force on the wall F = (mv mu)/ t When this force act on an area of the wall Is thus pressure is exerted. This is gas pressure, P=F/A

IMPORTANT NOTES ON COMPLETED ACTIVITIES

1. The atmosphere exerts a pressure and produces an unbalanced force where there is a vacuum. Magnitude of the force produced is dependent on the surface area , i.e.. F = p. A, where p is atmosphere pressure, and A is the surface area. Collisions of air molecules on any surface produce an impulsive force, creating the atmospheric pressure. The weight of air above any surface also contributes to the creation of the atmospheric pressure.

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INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING GAS PRESSURE

Fig. 2a : Coiled Paper Tube

Gear System

Hollow Metal Tube

Fig. 1: Manometer

Box Pointer

The gas pressure, p = p

+hg,
Fig. 2b: Bourdon Gauge

where p A = atmospheric pressure, h

Connected to gas supply

= height difference between the liquid columns,

= density of liquid columns in the manometer.

INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

Fig. 3: Simple Mercury Barometer

Fig. 4: Fortin Barometer

Fig. 5: Aneroid Barometer

Magnitude of atmospheric pressure 1. Important facts: At standard temperature and pressure (STP), the atmospheric pressure supports barometric height of 76 cm of mercury (76 cm Hg) or 10 m of water column. 2. The magnitude of atmospheric pressure, p is given by p=hg
m kg 3. Therefore, 1 atmosphere = 0.76 m X 13600 X 9.8 s 2 m3
5

and

1 atmosphere = 1.01 X 10

Pa

QUESTIONS BASED ON THE PICTURE

1.

Do you think the mountaineers will experience any difficulty in breathing ? Explain why if you think so.

2.

How can the mountaineers overcome this problem ?

3.

Can you explain why the atmospheric pressure decreases with altitudes ?

EXPLAINATION ON DECREASE OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE WITH ALTITUDES

You can imagine a number of 1 m column of the atmosphere as a tall stack of air blocks. Lets say there are 10, 000 air blocks with a mass of 1, 000 kg each, then the total pressure exerted by all the air blocks above a point is 100, 000 Pa. The bottom 1, 000 kg is the most tightly compressed because it supports all the weights above it.
2

At higher altitudes, the air is less tightly compressed since it has less weight above it.

LETS SUMMARIZE THE IMPORTANT POINTS!

1. The atmosphere exerts a pressure and produces an unbalanced force where there is a vacuum. The atmospheric pressure is produced by (a) collisions of air molecules on any surface (b) weight of air above any surface 2.

3.

The gas pressure can be measured by a manometer and Bourdon gauge.

The atmospheric pressure can be measured by a simple mercury barometer, Fortin barometer and aneroid barometer. The magnitude of atmosphere pressure at STP is 76 cm Hg or 10 m or water or 1.01 X 10 5 Pa. The atmospheric pressure decreases with altitudes because the density of air is reduced at higher altitudes.

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