Grade 10
  1. Mechanics  1.1. Dynamics  1.1.1. Motion in one dimension  1.1.2. Motion in two dimensions  1.1.3. Displacement and Distance  1.1.4. Speed and Velocity  1.1.5. Acceleration  1.1.6. Graphical representation of motion  1.1.7. Equations of motion  1.1.8. Free fall and acceleration due to gravity  1.1.9. Projectile motion  1.1.10. Relative speed  1.2. Dynamics  1.2.1. Newton's Laws of Motion  1.2.2. Inertia and mass  1.2.3. Force and its types  1.2.4. action and reaction force  1.2.5. Friction and its effects  1.2.6. Coefficient of friction  1.2.7. Circular motion  1.2.8. Centripetal force and centripetal acceleration  1.2.9. Momentum and Impulse  1.2.10. Conservation of momentum  1.2.11. Newton's third law and applications  1.3. Work, Energy and Power  1.3.1. Work done by the force  1.3.2. Work–energy theorem  1.3.3. Kinetic energy  1.3.4. Potential energy  1.3.5. Mechanical energy  1.3.6. Energy Conservation  1.3.7. Power and efficiency  1.3.8. Renewable and non-renewable energy sources  1.4. Gravitational force  1.4.1. Newton's law of universal gravitation  1.4.2. Gravitational field and field strength  1.4.3. Acceleration due to gravity on different planets  1.4.4. Kepler's laws of planetary motion  1.4.5. Orbits and satellites  1.4.6. Weight and apparent weight  1.4.7. Gravitational potential energy
  2. Properties of matter  2.1. States of matter  2.1.1. Solid, liquid and gas  2.1.2. Molecular structure of matter  2.1.3. Intermolecular forces  2.1.4. Plasma and Bose–Einstein condensate  2.2. Pressure  2.2.1. Definition of Pressure  2.2.2. Pressure in liquids  2.2.3. Atmospheric pressure  2.2.4. Pascal's principle  2.2.5. Archimedes' Principle and Buoyancy  2.2.6. Surface tension and capillarity  2.3. Elasticity  2.3.1. Hooke's law  2.3.2. Stress and strain  2.3.3. Elastic Limit and Modulus of Elasticity  2.3.4. Applications of Elasticity
  3. Thermal physics  3.1. heat and temperature  3.1.1. Difference Between Heat and Temperature  3.1.2. Temperature scale  3.1.3. Thermal expansion  3.1.4. Thermal equilibrium  3.2. Heat transfer  3.2.1. Conductivity  3.2.2. Convection  3.2.3. Radiation  3.2.4. Insulation and its applications  3.3. Thermal properties of matter  3.3.1. Specific heat capacity  3.3.2. Latent heat and phase change  3.3.3. Boiling and Melting Point  3.3.4. Heat engines and refrigeration  3.4. Laws of Thermodynamics  3.4.1. Zeroth law of thermodynamics  3.4.2. First law of thermodynamics  3.4.3. Second law of thermodynamics  3.4.4. Carnot cycle
  4. Waves and optics  4.1. Nature and properties of waves  4.1.1. Types of waves in nature and properties of waves  4.1.2. Transverse and longitudinal waves  4.1.3. Wave parameters  4.1.4. Reflection and refraction of waves  4.1.5. Superposition and Interference  4.1.6. Standing Waves and Resonance  4.1.7. Doppler effect  4.2. Sound waves  4.2.1. Characteristics of sound waves  4.2.2. Speed of sound in different mediums  4.2.3. Applications of sound waves  4.2.4. Ultrasound and its uses  4.3. Light Waves and Optics  4.3.1. Nature of light  4.3.2. Reflection of light  4.3.3. Laws of reflection  4.3.4. Mirrors and Image Formation  4.3.5. Refraction of light  4.3.6. Snell's Law  4.3.7. Lenses and Image Formation  4.3.8. Total internal reflection and critical angle  4.3.9. Optical fibre  4.4. Optical Instruments  4.4.1. Microscope  4.4.2. Telescope  4.4.3. Human eye and vision defects  4.4.4. Camera and its working principle
  5. Electricity and Magnetism  5.1. Electrostatics  5.1.1. Electric charge and its properties  5.1.2. Conductors and Insulators  5.1.3. Coulomb's law  5.1.4. Electric field and field lines  5.1.5. Electric potential and potential difference  5.1.6. Capacitors and Capacitance  5.2. Current Electricity  5.2.1. Electric current and its measurement  5.2.2. Ohm's law  5.2.3. Resistance and resistivity  5.2.4. Series and Parallel Circuits  5.2.5. Electric power and energy  5.2.6. Kirchhoff's Laws  5.3. Magnetism and Electromagnetism  5.3.1. Magnetic field and field lines  5.3.2. Magnetic effects of electric current  5.3.3. Electromagnetic induction  5.3.4. Faraday's laws of electromagnetic induction  5.3.5. Transformers and Applications  5.3.6. AC and DC current
  6. Modern Physics  6.1. Nuclear physics  6.1.1. Structure of the atom  6.1.2. Bohr's atomic model  6.1.3. Electron Energy Levels  6.1.4. X-rays and applications  6.2. Radioactivity  6.2.1. Types of radiation  6.2.2. Half-life and radioactive decay  6.2.3. Nuclear reactions and applications  6.2.4. Fission and Fusion  6.3. Quantum physics  6.3.1. Wave–particle duality  6.3.2. Photoelectric effect  6.3.3. Energy quantization  6.3.4. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle
  7. Electronics and Communication  7.1. Semiconductors  7.1.1. Conductors, Insulators and Semiconductors  7.1.2. Diodes and their applications  7.1.3. Transistors and Logic Gates  7.1.4. LEDs and photodiodes  7.2. Communication Systems  7.2.1. Basics of communication  7.2.2. Analog and digital signals  7.2.3. Wireless and optical fibre communication  7.2.4. Radio Waves and Modulation

Grade 10 → Properties of matter ↓


Pressure


Pressure is a concept that plays a very important role in the subject of physics, especially when we study the properties of matter. It is a measure of how much force is applied over a certain area. Simply put, if you apply force over a smaller area, you get higher pressure. Let us understand the idea of pressure in depth using examples, visual aids, and simple language to make it easily understandable.

Definition of pressure

Pressure is defined as the amount of force applied per unit area. In physics, it is expressed by the formula:

        Pressure (P) = Force (F) / Area (A)

This can also be understood with the help of units. Force is measured in Newtons (N), and area is measured in square meters (m2). Therefore, pressure is measured in Pascals (Pa), which is equal to N/m2.

Force = 10N Area = 2m2 Pressure = 5 Pa

Examples of pressure

Let us consider some simple everyday examples to illustrate the concept of pressure:

Example 1: Think of pressing a thumbtack into a board. Its pointed end is very small, making it easy to push into the surface. Here, you apply force over a very small area, meaning high pressure is created, allowing the thumbtack to be inserted with minimal effort.

high pressure

Example 2: Consider a camel walking on sand. Camels have wide and padded feet that spread their weight over a larger area, reducing the pressure on the sand. This adaptation prevents camels from sinking into the sand, making it easier for them to travel in the desert.

Low Pressure

Types of pressure

Pressure can be classified into different types depending on the context in which it is applied:

  • Atmospheric pressure: It is the pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere on us. It is measured using a barometer and is approximately equal to 101,325 Pa at sea level.
  • Gauge pressure: This is the pressure measured relative to the ambient atmospheric pressure. For example, when you inflate a tire, you measure its pressure above atmospheric pressure.
  • Absolute pressure: It is the total pressure including atmospheric pressure.

Mathematical application of pressure

The concept of pressure is applied in various fields such as engineering, meteorology and medicine. Understanding the mathematical calculations associated with pressure can help solve many practical problems.

Example calculation

Suppose a force of 200 N is applied to an area of 20 m2. To calculate the pressure:

        P = F / A
    
        P = 200 N / 20 m2
    
        P = 10 Pa

This calculation shows that a pressure of 10 Pascals is exerted on the surface.

Factors affecting pressure

The pressure is affected by two main factors:

  1. Force: More force means more pressure, provided the area remains constant.
  2. Area: If the amount of force is the same then smaller area means more pressure. Thus a sharp knife cuts more easily than a blunt knife.

Visualization of pressure distribution

Sometimes to understand pressure it is necessary to see how it is distributed across surfaces. Consider the following visual example:

high pressure area low pressure area

These circles represent areas where a large amount of force is being applied to a small space, indicating high pressure, while other areas experience less pressure.

Effect and application of pressure

Pressure has a profound effect on our daily lives and on a variety of complex systems. Here are some effects and applications:

Hydraulic System

Hydraulics makes it possible to lift heavy objects with relatively little effort. This principle is used in car brake systems, where a small force applied to the brake pedal produces a large force on the wheels, due to the pressure applied through hydraulic fluids.

Airplanes and aerodynamics

Air pressure differences are very important in flight. Airplanes are designed to create a pressure difference above and below their wings, which allows them to lift off the ground.

Air Flow

The green line represents the airflow over the wing, which is moving faster, causing lower pressure than the red line airflow under the wing.

Weather systems

Atmospheric pressure affects weather patterns. High and low pressure systems cause changes in weather, including wind direction and precipitation. Understanding changes in pressure helps meteorologists forecast the weather.

Conclusion

In short, pressure is an integral part of physics that describes how forces affect surfaces. From tires to balloons, barometers to weather patterns, the concept of pressure is applied in a variety of fields and is important for many daily activities and scientific investigations. The key point is that pressure depends on force and area; the greater the force or smaller the area, the greater the pressure. Understanding this can help us understand many natural phenomena as well as design efficient systems in various technological domains.


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Pressure

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