Pressure: past paper questions
Real questions on pressure
The newest 20 of 49 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0972/31 · May/June 2026 · Q3b[3]
(b) The force on the table from container B is 64N. The area of container B in contact with the table is 12cm?. Calculate the pressure on the table produced by container B. PFOSSULE .......... N/cm? [3]
See it on the paper → - 0972/32 · May/June 2026 · Q2b[4]
(b) Another block of ice is lying on the ground, as shown in Figure 2.2. 0.36m |! 0.82m f 0.24m ground NOT TO SCALE Figure 2.2 The weight of the block of ice is 650N. Calculate the pressure on the ground caused by the block of ice in the position shown in Figure 2.2. PFOSSULE .......... N/m? [4]
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2026 · Q2b(i)[3]
Explain, in terms of particles, how the helium gas exerts a pressure on the inside of the balloon.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2026 · Q4b(iii)[2]
(iii) Another student stands on the ground. The area in contact with the ground is 380 cm?. The weight of the student is 530N. Calculate the pressure exerted by the student on the ground. State the unit. PIOSSULC .......... .......... unit [2]
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · October/November 2025 · Q5c[3]
The weight of the metal cylinder is 420 N. The area of the metal cylinder in contact with the ground is 300 cm 2 . Calculate the pressure on the ground due to the metal cylinder. pressure = N / cm 2
See it on the paper → - 0972/32 · May/June 2025 · Q3b[3]
A different metal block is lying on the ground, as shown in Fig. 3.2. 0.54 m 0.18 m ground Fig. 3.2 (not to scale) The weight of the metal block is 890 N. Calculate the pressure on the ground caused by the block in the position shown in Fig. 3.2. pressure = N / m 2
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · October/November 2024 · Q2c[3]
In (a), the weight of the pushchair and child is 240 N. The total area of contact with the ground is 38 cm 2 . Calculate the pressure on the ground due to the pushchair and child. pressure on ground = N / cm 2
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2024 · Q4c[3]
Describe, in terms of particles, how a gas exerts a pressure on the walls of its container.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2023 · Q3b(i)[2]
Show that the pressure due to the water at the base of the block is approximately 850 Pa.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2023 · Q3b(ii)[2]
Calculate the force F on the base of the block caused by the pressure given in (b)(i). F =
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · May/June 2023 · Q2a[4]
The weight of the concrete beam is 1540 N. Calculate the pressure on the ground due to the concrete beam. pressure = N / cm 2
See it on the paper → - 0972/32 · May/June 2023 · Q3c[3]
The student places the torch on its base on a shelf. The area of the base of the torch is 44 cm 2 . The weight of the torch is 8.5 N. Calculate the pressure on the shelf due to the torch. pressure on shelf = N / cm 2
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2023 · Q3a[3]
Fig. 3.1 shows a person moving across an ice-covered pond to reach a ball on the ice. ball ice Fig. 3.1 Explain why this way of moving across the ice is safer than walking. Use your understanding of pressure in your answer.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2023 · Q3b[4]
Fig. 3.2 shows a side view of the pond with a layer of ice floating freely on the water. ice pond 0.45 m water X Fig. 3.2 The surface area of the pond is 5.0 m 2 . The mass of the ice is 690 kg. The density of water is 1000 kg / m 3 . Point X is 0.45 m below the ice. Calculate the pressure at point X due to the ice and...
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · October/November 2022 · Q4c[5]
The weight of a table is 280 N. The table has four legs. The area of each table leg in contact with the floor is 18 cm 2 . Calculate the pressure of the table on the floor. Give the correct unit. pressure on the floor = unit
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · October/November 2022 · Q5a(i)[3]
Atmospheric pressure is 756 mm of mercury. Calculate the pressure of the gas in the gas bottle. pressure of gas = mm of mercury
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · October/November 2022 · Q5a(ii)[1]
State the name of the measuring device shown in Fig. 5.1.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2022 · Q4a(i)[2]
Calculate the force exerted on the piston by the air in the freezer. force =
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · May/June 2022 · Q3a(i)[2]
Calculate the area of the metal block in contact with the ground. area = cm 2
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · May/June 2022 · Q3b[3]
A different metal block has a weight of 24 N. The area of this metal block in contact with the ground is 4.0 cm 2 . Calculate the pressure of this block on the ground. pressure = N / cm 2
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Many correct answers were seen. Common errors were recalling the pressure equation incorrectly, usually pressure = force area, or miscalculating the area of the block.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/32 Q3(b) (Cambridge)
Most candidates correctly stated that particles collide with the walls of the container. Stronger answers went on to state that those collisions produced a force or a change of momentum on the wall and that pressure = force ÷ area. Weaker candidates omitted a statement that a force was exerted, and some otherwise good answers did not specify the link between pressure and force. It is important tha...
— Examiner report, May/June 2024, 0972/42 Q4(c) (Cambridge)
Showing that the pressure due to the water at the base of the block is approximately 850 Pa required more than manipulating the numbers given in the question to calculate 852. Most candidates were able to recall the formula for calculating the pressure in a liquid before substituting the values correctly to gain full credit. Candidates using symbols other than those given in the syllabus should de...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 0972/41 Q3(b)(i) (Cambridge)
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