Pressure And Properties of Matter - SS1 Physics Past Questions and Answers - page 1

Pressure is defined as the force exerted per unit area. It measures how much force is distributed over a given area. For example, when you press your hand against a table, the force you apply is spread out over the surface area of your hand, resulting in pressure. Similarly, when you inflate a balloon, the air inside exerts pressure on the walls of the balloon.

In a fluid, pressure increases with increasing depth. This is because the weight of the fluid above exerts a force on the lower layers, resulting in increased pressure. The deeper you go underwater, the greater the pressure you experience due to the weight of the water above you. This is why divers may feel pressure on their ears as they descend to greater depths.

The unit commonly used to measure pressure is the Pascal (Pa). One Pascal is equal to one Newton per square meter (N/m²). It represents the amount of force exerted over a given area. Pascal is related to other units of measurement, such as Newton (unit of force) and the square meter (unit of area), through the definition of pressure as force per unit area.