- Pressure
- The force acting normally (perpendicularly) on unit area of a surface (pressure = force ÷ area); measured in pascals (Pa).
- Pressure in liquids
- The pressure at a point in a liquid, which increases with depth and density (pressure = height × density × gravitational field strength) and acts equally in all directions.
- Atmospheric pressure
- The pressure exerted by the weight of the column of air in the atmosphere on the Earth's surface and on objects in it.
- Gas pressure
- The pressure produced by the collisions of gas particles with the walls of their container.
- Pascal's principle
- Pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted equally and undiminished throughout the fluid in all directions.
- Hydraulic system
- A system that uses Pascal's principle to multiply force by transmitting pressure through an enclosed liquid, as in a hydraulic jack.
- Archimedes' principle
- An object wholly or partly immersed in a fluid experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.
- Buoyant force
- The upward force exerted by a fluid on an object immersed in it.
- Principle of flotation
- A floating object displaces a weight of fluid equal to its own weight.
- Bernoulli's principle
- For a flowing fluid, where the speed is higher the pressure is lower, and where the speed is lower the pressure is higher.
- Manometer
- A U-shaped tube containing liquid used to measure the pressure of a gas by comparing liquid levels in its two arms.
What "Pressure" terms cover
This group collects the 11 SPM Physics terms in Pressure. Getting these definitions exactly right is some of the cheapest marks in Paper 2, a "define" or "state" question wants one precise sentence with the correct unit.
The key terms to get right
- Pressure, The force acting normally (perpendicularly) on unit area of a surface (pressure = force ÷ area); measured in pascals (Pa).
- Pressure in liquids, The pressure at a point in a liquid, which increases with depth and density (pressure = height × density × gravitational field strength) and acts equally in all directions.
- Atmospheric pressure, The pressure exerted by the weight of the column of air in the atmosphere on the Earth's surface and on objects in it.
- Gas pressure, The pressure produced by the collisions of gas particles with the walls of their container.
- Pascal's principle, Pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted equally and undiminished throughout the fluid in all directions.
- Hydraulic system, A system that uses Pascal's principle to multiply force by transmitting pressure through an enclosed liquid, as in a hydraulic jack.
- Archimedes' principle, An object wholly or partly immersed in a fluid experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.
- Buoyant force, The upward force exerted by a fluid on an object immersed in it.
- Principle of flotation, A floating object displaces a weight of fluid equal to its own weight.
- Bernoulli's principle, For a flowing fluid, where the speed is higher the pressure is lower, and where the speed is lower the pressure is higher.
- Manometer, A U-shaped tube containing liquid used to measure the pressure of a gas by comparing liquid levels in its two arms.
How this vocabulary is examined
These terms appear as define/state items in Paper 1 and Paper 2, and inside explain and calculate questions where using the wrong word costs marks. Learn each term with its unit and one example of correct use.
Source: DSKP KSSM Physics Form 4 and 5 (Versi English) (Bahagian Pembangunan Kurikulum (BPK), KPM)