Density and Pressure 2024

Name:........................................................................... Year 12:...........................

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5. The density of the liquid is 1100 kg m–3. The upthrust acting on the sphere due to the liquid is 2.5 N.
Use Archimedes’ principle to determine the radius r of the sphere.

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8 A sphere is attached by a metal wire to the horizontal surface at the bottom of a river, as shown in
Fig. 2.1.

sphere
direction of
flow of water

water
wire

horizontal
68° surface

Fig. 2.1 (not to scale)

The sphere is fully submerged and in equilibrium, with the wire at an angle of 68° to the horizontal
surface. The weight of the sphere is 32 N. The upthrust acting on the sphere is 280 N. The density
of the water is 1.0 × 103 kg m–3.

Assume that the force on the sphere due to the water flow is in a horizontal direction.

(a) By considering the components of force in the vertical direction, determine the tension in the
wire.

tension = ..................................................... N [2]

(b) For the sphere, calculate:

(i) the volume

volume = .................................................... m3 [1]

(ii) the density.

density = .............................................. kg m–3 [2]

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9 A beaker in air contains a liquid. The base of the beaker is in contact with the liquid and has
area A, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

beaker

liquid
h
base area A

Fig. 4.1

The liquid has density ρ and fills the beaker to a depth h.

(a) By using the definitions of pressure and density, show that

p = ρ gh

where p is the pressure due to the liquid that is exerted on the base of the beaker and g is the
acceleration of free fall.

[3]

(b) Suggest why the equation in (a) does not give the total pressure on the base of the beaker.

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(c) Fig. 4.2 shows the variation of the total pressure inside the liquid with depth x below the
surface.

9.66

9.65
pressure / 104 Pa
9.64

9.63

9.62

9.61

9.60
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
x / cm

Fig. 4.2

Determine the density of the liquid.

density = .............................................. kg m–3 [2]

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(d) A solid cylinder is held stationary by a wire so that the base of the cylinder is level with the
surface of the liquid, as shown in Fig. 4.3.

wire 0.53 N
cross-sectional area
3.7 × 10– 4 m2

cylinder
4.0 × 10–2 m
surface of liquid

Fig. 4.3 (not to scale)

The cylinder has length 4.0 × 10–2 m and cross‑sectional area 3.7 × 10–4 m2. The tension in
the wire is 0.53 N.

The cylinder is now lowered and then held stationary by the wire so that the top of the cylinder
is level with the surface of the liquid.

Calculate the new tension in the wire.

tension = ...................................................... N [2]

[Total: 8]

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10 A sphere floats in equilibrium on the surface of sea water of density 1050 kg m−3, as shown in
Fig. 2.1.

sphere

sea water, density 1050 kg m–3

Fig. 2.1

(a) 21% of the volume of the sphere is below the surface of the water.

Calculate the density of the sphere.

density = .............................................. kg m−3 [2]

(b) The sphere is now held so that its entire volume is below the surface of the water. The sphere
is then released.

(i) Calculate the initial acceleration of the sphere.

acceleration = ................................................ m s−2 [3]

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(ii) The sphere accelerates upwards but remains entirely below the surface of the water.
State and explain what happens to the acceleration of the sphere as its velocity begins
to increase.

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[Total: 8]

END

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