Density and pressure (2024)

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Density and pressure (1)

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Density

Density is a measurement of the amount of mass per volume of the substance.

It is vital that you understand the relationship between density, mass and volume for your examination. Without having a good knowledge of density and pressure it is not possible to fully understand the differences between the main three states of matter.

Solids have a very high density which means that they have a large mass over a small volume. The particles in liquids are more spaced out so liquids are less dense than solids. Liquids have a lower mass per volume. Gases have the lowest density of the three states of matter as the particles are very spaced out and there is less mass per unit of volume. This density is calculated using the following equation:

Density and pressure (2)

You must know and be able to use this equation as it will not be provided in the exam.

The units used for density depend on the units for mass and volume. Density can either be measured in kg/m3 (kilograms per cubic metre) or g/cm3 (grams per cubic centimetre). The triangle shown in the diagram below can be used to work out how to rearrange the above equation to calculate mass or volume.

Density and pressure (3)

From these equations we know that the density of a substance can be determined by measuring its mass and volume. The volume of an object can be calculated by multiplying the length, width and height. The volume of an irregular object can be determined using a displacement can and a measuring cylinder.

Increasing and decreasing density

Since density is linked to mass and volume, any changes to these values will lead to a direct change in the density. For example, the are two ways in which the density can be increased. Firstly, the mass could be increased whilst the volume remains constant. This means that there is more mass in the same space. Secondly, the mass could be kept constant whilst the volume is decreased. This means that the same amount of matter takes up a smaller volume of space.

The density could also be decreased by reducing the mass or increasing the volume. Reducing the mass but keeping the volume constant reduces the amount of matter in the space. Increasing the volume with a constant mass means that the particles have more room to move and are not as close together.

Pressure, force and area

Pressure is defined as the amount of force exerted over a given area. Therefore, to calculate pressure, we need to know:

  • The force or weight applied
  • The area over which the force or weight acts

The area of any object is calculated by length by width. The unit commonly used for area is metres squared ().

Force is measured in Newtons (N) therefore pressure is measured in which are also known as pascals (Pa). For a force of 1 Newton acting on an area of 1 square metre, the pressure is 1 pascal.

The relationship between force, area and pressure is shown by the equation:

Density and pressure (4)

Density and pressure (5)

Pressure is measured in pascals (Pa)

Force is measured in Newtons (N)

Area is measured in metres squared (m2)

You must know and be able to use this equation as it will not be provided in the exam.

Example

A force of 20 N acts over an area of 2.

Calculate the pressure.

Density and pressure (6)

Density and pressure (7)

Density and pressure (8)

The formula triangle which can be used to rearrange this equation and allow us to calculate force or area is shown below:

Density and pressure (9)

The equation used to calculate force is:

Density and pressure (10)

The equation used to calculate area is:

Density and pressure (11)

Increasing and decreasing pressure

Pressure can be increased or decreased by altering either the force applied or the area over which the force is applied. Force and pressure have a directly proportional relationship. As long as the area remains constant, as the force is increased, the pressure applied is also increased. If the force is increased and the area is kept constant, the pressure will also increase. If the force is decreased and the area remains constant, the pressure will decrease.

For example, imagine that two people are pressing a drawing pin into a wall and one pushes with more force than the other. The pin being pushed by the person who is pushing with more force will move further into the wall due to the higher amount of pressure being applied.

Pressure and area have an inversely proportional relationship. As long as the force applied remains constant, a decrease in the area over which the force is applied causes an increase in the pressure, and an increase in area causes a decrease in pressure.

For example, imagine if a person stood on your toe with the heel of a stiletto shoe and the heel of their trainer. The force would be equal for both types of footwear as it is the same person standing on your toe. However, the force is spread over a much smaller area for the stiletto heel than the trainer heel. The pressure exerted by the stiletto would therefore be much greater and it would be a lot more painful for you!

Density and pressure (12)

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Density and pressure (2024)

FAQs

What is the relationship between density and pressure? ›

When pressure increases, density increases. When the pressure decreases, density decreases.

How do you calculate density and pressure? ›

The hydrostatic pressure can be calculated using the formula P = ρ g h P=ρgh P=ρgh where P represents the pressure, ρ the greek letter rho is the density of the liquid, g is acceleration due to gravity for the height h (or depth) of the liquid.

What is the rule for pressure and density? ›

For gases, around conditions where the ideal gas law holds, density = PM/RT where P is the pressure and M is the molecular weight, T is temperature and R is the Universal Gas Constant.

How does density change with pressure? ›

if the fluid is hot water, saturated, the density is higher by given higher pressure. fluid can either be gas or liquid. the density of a fluid is inversely proportional to its pressure hence, as pressure is increased, a decrease in density is observed, mass etc.

What is pressure divided by density? ›

ρ P = m V n R T V = m n R T . ⇒ The formula for density divided by pressure is mnRT, m n R T , where mn is the molar mass, which is numerically the same as the atomic mass, R is the gas constant in appropriate units and T is the temperature in kelvin.

What is the relationship between pressure and density of air? ›

The density increases as pressure increases. Altitude and weather systems can change the air's pressure. As you go higher, the air's pressure decreases from around 1,000 millibars at sea level to 500 millibars at around 18,000 feet.

Does density increase with temperature? ›

Heating a substance causes molecules to speed up and spread slightly further apart, occupying a larger volume that results in a decrease in density. Cooling a substance causes molecules to slow down and get slightly closer together, occupying a smaller volume that results in an increase in density.

How to calculate pressure? ›

Since pressure is defined as the force per unit area, its formula is expressed as P = F/A, where P is pressure, F is force, and A is the area by which the force is applied perpendicularly.

How to find force with density? ›

The relation between force 'F' and density 'd' is F=x√d.

How do you link pressure and density? ›

Pressure due to the weight of a liquid of constant density is given by p=ρgh p = ρ g h , where p is the pressure, h is the depth of the liquid, ρ is the density of the liquid, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

How is density directly proportional to pressure? ›

Change in pressure will be directly reflected in a change in density and vice-versa because pressure is related to volume by Boyle's law. Boyle's law states that for a given mass and at a constant temperature, the pressure P times volume V is always constant. \[PV = C\], where C is a constant.

How do density and pressure produce wind? ›

Air masses tend to flow from areas of high air pressure to areas of low air pressure. Thus, winds blow away from high-pressure areas; wind blows towards low-pressure areas. Air masses also move vertically. Dense, cold air masses sink and push less dense warm air masses upward.

How to calculate density from pressure? ›

The equation is d = MP/RT, d is the density of the gas in g/L, M is the molar mass of the gas in g/mol, P is pressure of the gas in ATM and R is the gas law constant. The equation shows that as the density of gas increases as the molar mass increases.

What is the relationship between pressure and density? ›

Pressure and density have a direct relationship, meaning that if one increases, so does the other. This also means that pressure is directly proportional to the number of moles, but inversely proportional (one goes up, the other goes down) to volume, since volume is in the denominator.

How do you calculate density? ›

What is the formula for density? The formula for density is the mass of an object divided by its volume. In equation form, that's d = m/v , where d is the density, m is the mass, and v is the volume of the object.

Is pressure directly proportional to density? ›

From these two relations we get that, \[\rho \propto P\], i.e. pressure is directly proportional to density of a substance or increase in pressure will increase the density and vice-versa. Therefore, the relation between pressure and density is given by Boyle's law.

What is the relationship between pressure energy density? ›

P=2/3E.

What is the relationship between pressure height and density? ›

The SI unit of pressure is the pascal: 1Pa=1N/m2 1 Pa = 1 N/m 2 . Pressure due to the weight of a liquid of constant density is given by p=ρgh p = ρ g h , where p is the pressure, h is the depth of the liquid, ρ is the density of the liquid, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

Is density inversely proportional to pressure True or false? ›

Density is not typically inverse to pressure. Instead, it's often said to be directly proportional. Changing pressure and observing corresponding changes in density illustrate this direct relationship.

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