Gas Pressure

1. Gas pressure is the force per unit area exerted by the gas molecules as they collide with
the surface of an object.
2. In SPM, especially in paper 2 essay question, you need to know how the gas pressure is
produced. (See question below)

Question:
Explain how gas pressure is produced in a closed container?

Answer:

1. Gas molecules in a container are in constant and random motion.

2. As a result, the gas molecules collide on the wall of the container.
3. After colliding on the wall, the gas molecules bounce off, and the direction change
creating a change of momentum to the molecule of the gas.
4. The change of momentum produces a force on the wall.
5. The force per unit area is the pressure on the wall.

Atmospheric Pressure

1. On the surface of the earth, there is a thick layer of gas called the atmosphere. The
atmosphere consists of various types of gas called the atmospheric gas.
2. The atmospheric gases collide on the surface of the earth and hence exert a pressure on
the surface of the earth, called the atmospheric pressure.
3. The atmospheric pressure can be measured in the unit of atm, mmHg or Pa. The
atmospheric pressure at sea level is taken to be 1 atm, which is approximately 760 mmHg
or 101,000 Pa.

Characteristics of Atmospherics Pressure

1. Decreases with altitude

The atmospheric pressure changes accordingly to the altitude. Altitude is the height
above sea level. The greater the altitude, the lower the atmospheric pressure.
2. Act equally in all direction
The atmospheric pressure acts on every object in the atmosphere. It acts equally in all
direction.
3. Atmospheric pressure is ~ 100,000Pa at sea level
On the surface of the earth, the atmospheric pressure can be as high as 101,000 Pa.

Unit Used to Measure Atmospheric Pressure

1. The following are the unit used to measure atmospheric pressure

 a. Pascal (Pa)
1 Pa = 1 N/m
b. Standard Atmospheric Pressure (atm)
1 atm = Atmospheric Pressure at sea level ( = 101,325 Pa)
c. mmHg (also known as torr)
1 mmHg = 1/760 atm (roughly equal to the liquid pressure exerted by a millimetre
of mercury).
d. milibar (Not used in SPM)
2. In SPM, usually we use the unit cmHg, instead of mmHg.

Proof of Existence of Atmospheric Pressure

The existence of the atmospheric pressure can be proved by the following experiments.

1. Crushing can experiment

2. Water cover with cardboard does not flow out
3. Magdeburg Hemisphere

Crushing can experiment

1. When a can filled with hot water is closed and is cooled down rapidly by pouring cold
water on it, it will crush instantly.
2. This experiment proves that there is a huge atmospheric pressure exerts on everything on
the surface of the earth.
Water cover with cardboard does not flow out

1. The cardboard does not fall and the water remains in the glass even though it's not
supported by anything.
2. This is because the force caused by the atmospheric pressure acts on the surface of the
cardboard is greater than the weight of the water in the glass. This experiment proves that
atmospheric pressure is present on the surface of the earth.

Magdeburg Hemisphere

1. When the air inside the hemisphere is pumped out so that it becomes a vacuum, the
hemisphere cannot be separated even by a very great force.
 2. This is because when the air is pumped out, the pressure inside the hemisphere becomes
very low.
3. The atmospheric pressure exerts a strong force on the outer surface of the hemisphere,
holding the hemisphere tightly together.

Applications of Atmospheric Pressure

Syringe

1. When the piston is pulled up, the atmospheric pressure inside the cylinder will decrease.
2. The atmospheric pressure outside pushes the liquid up into the syringe.

Lift Pump
Siphon

Working Mechanism of Siphon

Sucker Hook

When the sucker is pressed into place, the air inside is forced out. As a result, the pressure inside the
sucker become very low. The sucker is then held in position by the high atmospheric
pressure on the outside surface.
Straw

When a person sucks through the straw, the pressure in the straw become low. The atmospheric
pressure outside which is higher will force the water into the straw and consequently into the mouth.

Rubber Sucker
Vacuum Cleaner

Instruments Used to Measure Atmospheric Pressure

1. Atmospheric pressure can be measured by either

a. a simple barometer,
b. a Fortin barometer
c. an Aneroid barometer.
2. In SPM, most of the questions asked are related to the simple barometer.
3. For Fortin barometer and Aneroid barometer, you only need to know their working principle.

Simple Mercury Barometer

Simple Barometer

1. Atmospheric pressure can be measured by a simple barometer.

2. A thick glass tube (at least 1m long) is filled with mercury completely.
3. The open end of the tube is covered with a finger and inverted in a trough of mercury.
4. The height of the mercury is proportional to the atmospheric pressure.

Using Simple Mercury Barometer

Characteristics of the Mercury Barometer

Q and A
Q: Barometer is usually made up of mercury. Explain why is it not practical to have a water barometer?

A:

1. The atmospheric pressure is about 10 meter water, which means it can push the water up to 10
meter height.
2. Therefore a water barometer must be at least 10 meter long.
3. This is not practical because the glass tube of the barometer may be broken or topple easily. It is
also difficult to keep or move such a long tube.

Fortin Barometer

1. The Fortin barometer is an improved version of the simple mercury barometer.

2. The barometer tube is encased in a brass frame. This enables it to be carried around easily.
3. Vernier scale is used for taking reading for extra accuracy.
Q&A

Q: What is the advantages of a Fortin Barometer over a Simple mercury barometer?

A:

1. Easy to be carried around.

2. More accurate.

Anaroid Barometer

The anaroid barometer is usually used to measure altitude, which is named as altimeter.

Q&A

Q: Explain why the barometer can be used to measure altitude.

A:
The atmospheric pressure is inversely proportional to the altitude. The altitude can be determined from
the atmospheric pressure.

Q&A

Q: Why a simple barometer is not suitable to be used to measure altitude?

A: -Hard to be carried
-Mercury is volatile. It can evaporate easily
-Mercury is poisonous
Instruments Used to Measure Gas Pressure

1. The pressure of the gas in a container can be measured by using

a. Bourdon gauge
b. Manometer
2. In SPM, almost all calculation question about using instruments to find gas pressure in a
container are related to manometer. Therefore it's important for you to know the concept
behind this instrument.
3. For the Bourdon Gauge, you need to know its working mechanism.

Bourdon Gauge

Manometer
Bourdon Gauge

1. A Bourdon gauge is used to measure to gas pressure in a container.

2. There are 3 important components in a Bourdon gauge
3. the copper tube
4. the lever system
5. the pointer

Working Mechanism of a Bourdon Gauge

1. When the gauge is connected to a gas supply, the gas pressure will straighten the copper tube.
2. The copper tube exerts a force on the lever system and hence move the pointer. The movement
of the copper tube is magnified by the lever system
3. The pointer rotates and give a reading (in unit of Pascal).

Manometer
 1. A manometer is a U-shape tube filled with some liquid (usually mercury).
2. Manometer is a device used to measure gas pressure in a container.
3. The pressure of the gas is equal to the sum of the atmospheric pressure and pressure due to the
column of liquid.

Pgas = Patm + Pliquid

Note:
There are a few points we need to know when using a manometer

a. Difference in gas pressure at difference level can be ignored.

b. Pressure on the surface of liquid is equal to the gas pressure in contact.
c. Pressure that cause by liquid = hg.
d. For a given liquid, the pressures at any point of the same level are the same.
e. For different liquid with different density, pressure at two different level will be different.

Gas Trapped in a Capillary Tube

1. The pressure of the gas trapped in a capillary tube depends on the position of the tube.
2. Figure below shows the pressure of the gas when the capillary tube is horizontal, vertical and
vertically upside down.