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Topic 5 Practice Paper: Pressure — question paper

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QQ/IGCSE-PHYS/T5

IGCSE · Cambridge IGCSE Physics (Extended (Core + Supplement))

Topic 5 Practice Paper

Pressure

Duration: 40 minutes
Total: 30 marks
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READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

  • Answer all questions.
  • Section A contains ten multiple-choice questions. Choose one answer, A, B, C or D, for each.
  • Section B contains structured questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
  • The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
  • The total mark for this paper is 30.

Original practice material written against the Cambridge IGCSE Physics syllabus. It is not an official Cambridge examination paper. Topic 5: Pressure (p = F/A, everyday examples, pressure in liquids, Δp = ρgΔh).

For Examiner’s Use
Section A/ 10
Section B/ 20
Total/ 30

Section A: Multiple-choice questions[10 marks]

Choose one answer for each question. Each question is worth 1 mark.

  1. 1

    Which row correctly defines the pascal?

    1 pascal equals
    A1 N/m²
    B1 N·m
    C1 kg/m²
    D1 N/kg
    1. 2

      A metal block of weight 60 N stands on a face of area 0.020 m². The pressure it exerts is

      1. A1200 Pa
      2. B1.2 Pa
      3. C3000 Pa
      4. D0.00033 Pa
      ( )
    2. 3

      A person stands on soft snow in ordinary boots and sinks in. Wearing snowshoes, the person does not sink. The reason is

      1. Athe snowshoes increase the contact area, lowering the pressure
      2. Bthe snowshoes reduce the person’s weight
      3. Cthe snowshoes increase the contact area, raising the pressure
      4. Dthe snowshoes reduce the density of the snow
      ( )
    3. 4

      Keeping the force the same, the contact area of an object is doubled. The pressure it exerts

      1. Adoubles
      2. Bhalves
      3. Cquadruples
      4. Dstays the same
      ( )
    4. 5

      Liquid pressure at a point 3 m deep in a tank is compared with the pressure 3 m deep in a narrow tube of the same liquid. The pressures are

      1. Agreater in the tank, which holds more liquid
      2. Bgreater in the tube, which has a smaller base
      3. Czero in the tube, because its walls support the liquid
      4. Dequal, because pressure depends only on depth and liquid density
      ( )
    5. 6

      A dam wall is thickest at the bottom because

      1. Awater near the bottom is denser
      2. Bthe bottom of the wall carries the wall’s own weight
      3. Cwater pressure increases with depth
      4. Dthe base must insulate the concrete
      ( )
    6. 7

      A swimmer dives 5.0 m deep in fresh water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³). Take g = 9.8 N/kg. The pressure increase due to the water is

      1. A49 000 Pa
      2. B1960 Pa
      3. C49 Pa
      4. D490 000 Pa
      ( )
    7. 8

      At the same depth in two different liquids, liquid X gives a larger pressure increase than liquid Y. This shows that

      1. Aliquid X is deeper
      2. BX is in a wider container
      3. Cliquid Y is denser than liquid X
      4. Dliquid X is denser than liquid Y
      ( )
    8. 9

      The pressure increase 6.0 m down in a liquid of density 800 kg/m³ (g = 9.8 N/kg) is

      1. A131 kPa
      2. B47 kPa
      3. C4.7 kPa
      4. D480 Pa
      ( )
    9. 10

      A uniform brick is stood on end instead of lying flat. Compared with lying flat, standing on end gives

      1. Aa smaller pressure, because the height is greater
      2. Bthe same pressure, because the weight is unchanged
      3. Ca larger pressure, because the contact area is smaller
      4. Da larger pressure, because the brick is taller
      ( )

    Section B: Structured questions[20 marks]

    Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

    1. 11

      A student of weight 480 N stands with both feet on the ground. Each shoe has a contact area of 0.015 m².

      1. (a)

        Calculate the total contact area of both shoes.

        [1]
      2. (b)

        Calculate the pressure the student exerts on the ground.

        [2]
      3. (c)

        The student stands on one foot only. Without further calculation, state what happens to the pressure and explain why.

        [2]
    2. 12

      A hydraulic platform supports a crate. The crate’s weight of 3600 N acts on a piston of area 0.090 m².

      1. (a)

        Calculate the pressure the crate exerts on the piston.

        [2]
      2. (b)

        A second, identical crate is added. State the new pressure, showing your reasoning.

        [2]
      3. (c)

        Instead of adding a crate, the platform is swapped for a piston of area 0.18 m². State the pressure with the original single crate.

        [2]
    3. 13

      A tall water tank is filled with fresh water of density 1000 kg/m³. Take g = 9.8 N/kg.

      1. (a)

        Explain, in terms of the weight of water, why the pressure at the tank’s outlet valve is greater when the tank is nearly full.

        [2]
      2. (b)

        Calculate the pressure increase due to the water at a valve 8.0 m below the surface.

        [2]
      3. (c)

        The tank is drained to a depth of 2.0 m above the valve. Calculate the new pressure increase.

        [1]
    4. 14

      A museum places a heavy glass sculpture of weight 2400 N on a plinth. Designers can choose between a small contact pad of area 0.0020 m² or a wide pad of area 0.60 m². The plinth surface cracks under pressures above 800 kPa.

      1. (a)

        Calculate the pressure under the small pad.

        [2]
      2. (b)

        Determine which pad should be chosen, and justify the choice with a calculation.

        [2]

    — End of paper —