Pressure in solidsIB MYP Physics: Mind map

Exam questions on Pressure in solids

1. A warehouse worker in Rotterdam rests a wooden crate that weighs 900 N on a concrete floor. The largest face of the crate has an area of 1.5 m² and its smallest face has an area of 0.50 m².
   Calculate the pressure when the crate rests on its smallest face. Explain why this pressure is different from the pressure on its largest face.2 marks
2. A skier in the Swiss Alps weighs 700 N. Each ski has a contact area of 0.20 m². Without skis, her two boots have a total contact area of 0.04 m². The snow is deep and soft.
   Calculate the pressure the skier exerts on the snow when she stands on both skis.2 marks
3. Students investigate how the area of contact affects the pressure on soft sand. A brick of weight 24 N is placed on a tray of sand, resting on a different face each time. The three faces have areas of 0.020 m², 0.010 m² and 0.005 m². The depth of the dent in the sand was 3 mm, 6 mm and 12 mm respectively.
   State a testable hypothesis for this investigation and give a scientific reason for it. State the dependent variable.3 marks