CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Science P1.7 Pressure Exam Style Questions Paper 1
Question
A person wearing snowshoes is walking on snow.
How do snowshoes decrease the pressure on the snow?
(A) by applying the person’s weight over a larger area
(B) by applying the person’s weight over a smaller area
(C) by decreasing the person’s weight
(D) by increasing the person’s weight
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question
The weight of a box exerts pressure on the ground.
Which pair of changes to the box must reduce the pressure?
(A) decreasing the weight and decreasing the area of the base
(B) decreasing the weight and increasing the area of the base
(C) increasing the weight and decreasing the area of the base
(D) increasing the weight and increasing the area of the base
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question
When driving cars on soft sand, drivers are advised to reduce the pressure of the air in the tyres. Why does this cause the cars to sink less into the sand?
A. The area of the tyres in contact with the sand is decreased.
B. The area of the tyres in contact with the sand is increased.
C. The downward force on the sand is decreased.
D. The downward force on the sand is increased.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Answer: B. The area of the tyres in contact with the sand is increased.
Explanation: Reducing tyre pressure increases the contact area between the tyres and the sand, distributing the car’s weight over a larger area and reducing the pressure on the sand, which prevents sinking.
Question
Two different forces act on two different areas. Which combination of force and area produces the greatest pressure?
A) the larger force acting on the larger area
B) the larger force acting on the smaller area
C) the smaller force acting on the larger area
D) the smaller force acting on the smaller area
▶️Answer/Explanation
Answer: B) the larger force acting on the smaller area
Explanation: Pressure is calculated using the formula \( \text{pressure} = \frac{\text{force}}{\text{area}} \). Therefore, the greatest pressure is produced when a larger force acts on a smaller area.
Question
The diagram shows a rectangular block with three faces labelled P, Q, and R. The dimensions of the block are also shown.
Each face of the block is placed in turn on a flat, horizontal surface. Which statement is correct?
A. The smallest pressure is produced with the block resting on face P.
B. The smallest pressure is produced with the block resting on face Q.
C. The smallest pressure is produced with the block resting on face R.
D. The pressure is the same whether the block is resting on face P, face Q, or face R.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Answer: C
Explanation: Pressure is calculated as force divided by area. Face R has the largest area, so the pressure will be the smallest when the block rests on face R.