Pressure
1.8What the syllabus asks of you
- Define pressure as force per unit area; recall and use the equation pressure = force / area p = F / A
- Describe how pressure varies with force and area in the context of everyday examples
- State that the pressure at a surface produces a force in a direction at right angles to the surface and describe an experiment to show this
- Describe how the height of a liquid column in a liquid barometer may be used to determine the atmospheric pressure
- Describe, quantitatively, how the pressure beneath the surface of a liquid changes with depth and density of the liquid
- Recall and use the equation for the change in pressure beneath the surface of a liquid change in pressure = density × gravitational field strength × change in height ∆p = ρg∆h
Read the notes first
Chapter 1: Pressure
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Every question on Pressure, untimed, marked as you go.
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49 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q15Show mark scheme →
Acompared to Y: pressure at X is higher; compared to Z: pressure at X is lower
Bcompared to Y: pressure at X is higher; compared to Z: pressure at X is the same
Ccompared to Y: pressure at X is the same; compared to Z: pressure at X is lower
Dcompared to Y: pressure at X is the same; compared to Z: pressure at X is the same
Mark scheme
2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q14Show mark scheme →
Aweight = 52 N, dimensions 2 cm, 5 cm, 8 cm
Bweight = 52 N, dimensions 8 cm, 2 cm, 5 cm
Cweight = 52 N, dimensions 5 cm, 8 cm, 2 cm
Dweight = 52 N, dimensions 3 cm, 3 cm, 3 cm
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3May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q15Show mark scheme →
A0.31m/s
B3.0m/s
C18m/s
D29m/s
Mark scheme
4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AThe mass of the block is 1.0 kg and A is 1.0 cm².
BThe mass of the block is 1.0 kg and A is 1.0 m².
CThe weight of the block is 1.0 N and A is 1.0 cm².
DThe weight of the block is 1.0 N and A is 1.0 m².
Mark scheme
5Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Aarea of base 10 cm², density of liquid 1.3 g/cm³, depth of liquid 50 cm
Barea of base 20 cm², density of liquid 0.80 g/cm³, depth of liquid 80 cm
Carea of base 40 cm², density of liquid 1.0 g/cm³, depth of liquid 60 cm
Darea of base 50 cm², density of liquid 0.92 g/cm³, depth of liquid 75 cm
Mark scheme
6May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q11Show mark scheme →
Adifferent forces, different pressures
Bdifferent forces, same pressures
Csame forces, different pressures
Dsame forces, same pressures
Mark scheme
7May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q12Also set in May / June 2016 Paper 11, May / June 2016 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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8May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q11Show mark scheme →
AF_W = F_H; p_w > p_H
BF_W = F_H; p_w < p_H
CF_W > F_H; p_w > p_H
DF_W > F_H; p_w < p_H
Mark scheme
9May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q12Show mark scheme →
Adecrease; decrease
Bdecrease; increase
Cincrease; decrease
Dincrease; increase
Mark scheme
10Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A\frac{mg}{\pi d^2}
B\frac{mgh}{\pi d^2}
C\frac{4mg}{\pi d^2}
D\frac{4mgh}{\pi d^2}
Mark scheme
11Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
A2.7 kPa
B21 kPa
C104 kPa
D117 kPa
Mark scheme
12May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q14Show mark scheme →
A22 000 Pa
B78 000 Pa
C110 000 Pa
D178 000 Pa
Mark scheme
13Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q12Show mark scheme →
Aliquid X
Bliquid Y
Cliquid X
Dliquid Y
Mark scheme
14Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q13Show mark scheme →
A\frac{5.0 \times 1000}{9.8} \text{ Pa}
B5.0 \times 1000 \times 9.8 \text{ Pa}
C\frac{1000}{5.0} \text{ Pa}
D\frac{1000 \times 9.8}{5.0} \text{ Pa}
Mark scheme
15Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q16Show mark scheme →
AMake the bottom of the post pointed.
BMake the top of the post pointed.
CUse a longer post.
DUse a wider post.
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16May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q13Show mark scheme →
A7.5 kPa
B30 kPa
C74 kPa
D290 kPa
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17Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q14Also set in Oct / Nov 2022 Paper 11, May / June 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A4.0 N / cm²
B16 N / cm²
C40 N / cm²
D160 N / cm²
Mark scheme
18May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q11Show mark scheme →
Aliquid
Bliquid
Cair, liquid
Dvacuum, liquid
Mark scheme
19May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q12Show mark scheme →
A90 kPa
B99 kPa
C110 kPa
D200 kPa
Mark scheme
20Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q8Show mark scheme →
Aposition A in the ocean, near the water surface
Bposition B in the ocean, deeper below the water surface
Cposition C in the lake, near the water surface
Dposition D in the lake, deeper below the water surface
Mark scheme
21Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q10Show mark scheme →
A0.025 MPa
B0.075 MPa
C0.10 MPa
D0.13 MPa
Mark scheme
22Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q10Show mark scheme →
AP_X = P_Y + P_Z
BP_X > P_Z > P_Y
CP_X < P_Z < P_Y
DP_X = P_Y = P_Z
Mark scheme
23May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q11Show mark scheme →
Aforce × area
Bforce ÷ area
Cmass × area
Dmass ÷ area
Mark scheme
24May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q12Show mark scheme →
A1.5$d$
B2$d$
C3$d$
D4$d$
Mark scheme
25May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q12Show mark scheme →
Ad + ρ
Bd × ρ
Cd ÷ ρ
Dρ ÷ d
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26May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q13Show mark scheme →
AM / xyz
BM / yz
CW / xyz
DW / yz
Mark scheme
27Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q13Show mark scheme →
Ap0 – hρg
Bp0 + hρg
Cp0
Dhρg
Mark scheme
28May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q14Show mark scheme →
A50 000 Pa
B120 000 Pa
C150 000 Pa
D250 000 Pa
Mark scheme
29May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q15Show mark scheme →
A676 mm of mercury
B696 mm of mercury
C816 mm of mercury
D836 mm of mercury
Mark scheme
30May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q14Show mark scheme →
Adensity 1000 kg/m3, depth 4.0 m
Bdensity 1000 kg/m3, depth 10 m
Cdensity 1200 kg/m3, depth 4.0 m
Ddensity 1200 kg/m3, depth 10 m
Mark scheme
31Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q14Show mark scheme →
AX X produces greater pressure on the wood
BX X produces smaller pressure on the wood
CY Y produces greater pressure on the wood
DY Y produces smaller pressure on the wood
Mark scheme
32Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q15Show mark scheme →
Ag, h, P and ρ
Bg, h and P only
Ch, P and ρ only
Dg, h and ρ only
Mark scheme
33Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q12Show mark scheme →
AThe pressure of the trapped air is equal in tubes P, Q and R.
BThe pressure of the trapped air is greatest in tube Q.
CThe pressure of the trapped air is greatest in tube R.
DThe pressure of the trapped air is greatest in tube P.
Mark scheme
34May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q11Show mark scheme →
A52 N
B58 N
C62 N
D68 N
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35May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q13Show mark scheme →
A40 mm
B80 mm
C400 mm
D800 mm
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36May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q14Also set in May / June 2019 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AIt decreases, because atmospheric pressure decreases with height.
BIt decreases, because atmospheric pressure increases with height.
CIt increases, because atmospheric pressure decreases with height.
DIt increases, because atmospheric pressure increases with height.
Mark scheme
37Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q13Show mark scheme →
A10, 1.3, 50
B20, 0.80, 80
C40, 1.0, 60
D50, 0.92, 75
Mark scheme
38Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q14Show mark scheme →
A0.10 N / cm^2
B0.30 N / cm^2
C0.40 N / cm^2
D0.50 N / cm^2
Mark scheme
39Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q16Also set in Oct / Nov 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
APQ
BPS
CQR
DRS
Mark scheme
40May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q16Also set in May / June 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Apressure against area: straight line through origin
Bpressure against area: curve decreasing from origin
Cpressure against area: straight line decreasing to zero
Dpressure against area: curve decreasing towards zero
Mark scheme
41May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q17Also set in May / June 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
Mark scheme
42Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q10Also set in Oct / Nov 2017 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A28 000 Pa
B42 000 Pa
C56 000 Pa
D84 000 Pa
Mark scheme
43May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q16Show mark scheme →
Apressure at X is higher; pressure at X is lower
Bpressure at X is higher; pressure at X is the same
Cpressure at X is the same; pressure at X is lower
Dpressure at X is the same; pressure at X is the same
Mark scheme
44May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
AThe atmospheric pressure is different at P.
BThe densities of the liquids are different.
CThe gravitational field strength is different at P.
DThe shapes of the containers are different.
Mark scheme
45May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q19Also set in May / June 2017 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A200 Pa
B2000 Pa
C20 000 Pa
D200 000 Pa
Mark scheme
46Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q12Show mark scheme →
A5000 N
B100 000 N
C100 020 N
D2 000 000 N
Mark scheme
47Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q13Show mark scheme →
A51 Pa
B510 Pa
C5100 Pa
D51 000 Pa
Mark scheme
48Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q17Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
Mark scheme
49May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q11Show mark scheme →
AWA
B\frac{W}{A}
C\frac{WA}{g}
D\frac{W}{g}
Mark scheme