Pressure: past paper questions

Where the questions come from

• Question 10Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which situation is not explained by the equation $P=\frac{F}{A}$?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An artist makes four sculptures with circular bases and places them on sand. All the sculptures are of equal weight and volume. Which sculpture is least likely to sink into the sand?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  When a diver swims down from the surface of the water to a depth of $10\text{ m}$, the pressure experienced increases from $100000{\text{ N/m}}^2$ to $200000{\text{ N/m}}^2$. Which statement explains this increase in pressure?

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• Question 10May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Sea water is denser than fresh water. Where is the pressure on a diver greatest?

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which unit is a unit of pressure?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  In which position does a person exert least pressure on the ground?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Tractors have large tyres. These help to prevent the wheels from sinking into soft ground. Which statement explains this?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  How is pressure defined?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Why is it easier to push a sharp nail, rather than a blunt nail, into a piece of wood?

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• Question 9May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  An object is beneath the surface of a liquid. One factor that affects the pressure exerted on the object is the gravitational field strength. Which other factors affect the pressure due to the liquid?

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• Question 9Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Diagram 1 shows a conical flask containing water. Diagram 2 shows a beaker with the same base area as the flask and containing water of the same depth $d$. Which statement is correct?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  An elephant of weight $45000\text{ N}$ stands with all four feet on the floor. The average pressure on the floor due to the elephant foot in contact with it is $34000\text{ Pa}$. What is the area of each foot of the elephant?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The water in a swimming pool exerts a pressure at the bottom of the pool. Which graph shows the relationship between the pressure exerted by the water and the depth of water in the pool?

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• Question 9Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two beakers are filled to the same depth, one with water and one with oil. The density of water is $1000{\text{ kg/m}}^3$. The density of oil is $920{\text{ kg/m}}^3$.

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Some altimeters use the change in air pressure to measure height. If the pressure is $100\text{ kPa}$ at sea level on a particular day, what will the pressure be at the top of an $830\text{ m}$ hill?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  An object is a depth $h$ below the surface of a liquid. The pressure due to the liquid at this depth is $p$. The gravitational field strength is $g$.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2025, paper 31Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 5.1 shows an empty metal cylinder. Describe the arrangement, separation and motion of the metal particles.

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2024, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four tanks contain water to the depths shown. At the bottom of which tank is the pressure due to the water greatest?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  An object is immersed in a liquid of density $\rho$. The pressure at this depth due to the liquid is $p$. The gravitational field strength is $g$.

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• Question 3May/June 2026, paper 31Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 3.1 shows two containers, A and B, partly filled with water. Explain why container A is more stable than container B.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows gas trapped in a cylinder by a piston. The volume of gas is $240{\text{ cm}}^3$. The piston is pushed to the left and is held in its new position.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 31Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A person pushes a pushchair. A young child rides in the pushchair. Fig. 2.1 shows horizontal forces acting on the front wheel of the pushchair.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Liquids are difficult to compress whereas gases can be compressed easily. Explain, in terms of particles, why it is difficult to compress liquids.

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 32Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  A machine lifts a block of ice as shown in Figure 2.1. The weight of the block of ice is $650\text{ N}$. The machine lifts the block of ice a vertical height of $1.2\text{ m}$.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 43Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A rectangular glass tank contains $3.0{\text{ m}}^3$ of liquid. The mass of the liquid is $2800\text{ kg}$. Calculate the density of the liquid.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 33Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  A boy weighs $620\text{ N}$. Calculate the mass of the boy.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows a bottle part-filled with water. The air inside the bottle is at the same pressure as the air outside the bottle. The bottle and its contents are at room temperature.

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• Question 10May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which pair of changes, applied at the same time, always increases the pressure that a brick exerts on the ground?

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• Question 8May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four identical submarines, P, Q, R and S, are lowered from one depth to another in water of a constant density. The initial and final depths of each submarine are shown. Which row is correct for the difference in pressure from the initial to the final depth of each submarine?

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 42Structured8 marks

  Define ‘impulse’ in words.

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