Sec 11 – 1

Pressure
Pressure and Force
 Pressure:
 Define as the force per unit area on a
surface
 Pressure = Force / Area = F/A
 Units ( Newtons/meter2 = Pascals)
Pressure and Force con’t
 How does a gas cause pressure?
 Collisions of it molecules on the inside

walls of its container.

 Increasing kinetic energy, increases the

number of collisions, which increases the

pressure.
Measuring Pressure
 A barometer is a
device used to
measure
atmospheric
pressure.
 Developed by
Torricelli in 1643
Units of Pressure
Standard Temperature and
Pressure
 Standard Temperature and Pressure
(STP)
 Standard pressure = 1 atm = 760 torr
 Standard temperature = 0o C
 Allows for comparison of different
volumes of gases.
Example problem

The average atmospheric pressure in Denver,

Colorado is 0.830 atm. Express this
pressure (a) in mm Hg (b) in kPa

Given: P of atmosphere = 0.830 atm

760 mmHg = 1 atm
101.325 kPa = 1 atm
Unknown: Pressure in mmHg and kPa