Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can define pressure as perpendicular force per unit area and give its unit, the pascal. (Guide: “Pressure on a surface”)
- I can explain why pressure is a scalar, and say which way the force from a pressure acts on a surface. (Guide: “Pressure is a scalar”; Practice Q2)
- I can explain fluid pressure as the result of many particle collisions with a surface. (Guide: “Where fluid pressure comes from”; Practice Q4, Q6)
- I can explain why an incompressible liquid has the same density at every depth. (Guide: “Where fluid pressure comes from”)
- I can tell gauge pressure from absolute pressure, including when gauge pressure is negative. (Guide: “Absolute pressure and gauge pressure”; Practice Q6)
Skills
- I can calculate pressure from a force at an angle using only its perpendicular component. (Guide: Worked example 1, Figure 1; Practice Q1)
- I can calculate gauge and absolute pressure at a depth with P = P₀ + ρgh, using the vertical depth. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q3, Q7)
- I can add the pressure contributions of stacked layers of different liquids. (Practice Q5)
- I can find the net force on a surface from the pressure difference across it. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q6)
- I can find a liquid’s density from a gauge pressure and a depth, or from the slope of a pressure–depth graph. (Guide: Worked example 3, Figure 3)
- I can sketch pressure against depth for one or more liquids, showing the intercept and the slopes. (Guide: Figure 3; Practice Q5)
Reasoning
- I can use the column argument to justify why container shape and width do not affect pressure at a given depth. (Guide: Figure 2; Practice Q7)
- I can compare pressures between scenarios using ratios, and explain why doubling depth does not double absolute pressure. (Guide: “Comparing scenarios”; Practice Q3)
- I can describe, without calculating, why a graph of air pressure against height curves. (Guide: “Graphs of pressure against depth”)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 8.3, Fluids and Newton’s Laws, or return to the course roadmap.