Pressure in solids IGCSE physics

A skier is standing still on a flat area of snow. The weight of the skier is 550N. The total area of his skis in contact with the ground is 0.0015m²

• 0.83 N/m²

• 8.3 N/m²

• 3700 N/m²

• 370,000 N/m²

The diagram shows a solid block resting on a bench. Teh dimensions of the block are shown.

On which labelled surface should the block rest to produce the smallest pressure on the bench?

• P

• Q

• R

• P, Q and R produce the same pressure.

Which diagram shows an athlete exerting the least pressure on the ground?

• A

• B

• C

• D

A drawing pin (thumb tack) has a sharp point at one end and a flat surface at the other end.

The pin is pushed into a wooden board.

How do the pressure and the force at the sharp point compare with pressure and the force on the flat surface?

• Force at the sharp point is greater than on the flat surface

  AND
  pressure at the sharp point is greater than on the flat surface.

• Force at the sharp point is greater than on the flat surface

  AND
  pressure at the sharp point is less than on the flat surface.

• Force at the sharp point is same as on the flat surface

  AND
  pressure at the sharp point is greater than on the flat surface.

• Force at the sharp point is same as on the flat surface

  AND
  pressure at the sharp point is lass than on the flat surface.

A force acts on an area to produce a pressure. What changes produce the same pressure?

• double the area and double the force.

• double the area and halve the force.

• double the area and make the force four times bigger.

• Halve the area and double the force.

Identical toy bricks are placed one on top of another to make a tower on a table. Which graph shows the relationship between the pressure P that the tower exerts on the table and the weight W of the tower?

• 
• 
• 
• 

A vehicle sinks into soft ground. The vehicle has changed so that it does not sink as far. Which change is made?

• a lower centre of mass

• a more powerful engine

• wheels that are further apart

• wider tyres

How has this change affected the force and the pressure exerted by the block on the table?

• force=decreased

  pressure = decreased

• force=decreased

  pressure = Unchanged

• force=unchanged

  pressure = decreased

• force=unchanged

  pressure = unchanged

Four physics teachers investigate pressure. They wear identical clothes and lie on different beds of nails.

The table gives the weight of each teacher and the total area of contact between the teacher and the nails.

Which teacher experiences the least pressures from the nails?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Which situation is an example of a force acting over a large area to produce a small pressure?

• A builder hammering a nail into a piece of wood

• a cook using a sharp knife to cut vegetables

• a nurse pushing a needle into a patient's arm

• a soldier marching in flat-soled boots