ETHIO NATIONAL SCHOOL

RD
2020 G.C 3 QUARTER PHYSICS LESSON NOTE for GRADE 9
 Dear students:- Copy the note and do the given homework on your exercise book!

Subject physics Grade & section 9 A- F

Unit፡ 6
Main topic Fluid statics
Sub topic/s Relative density
Page range from _140 _to 170
Tuesday
Date March 31/2020
Page range 153 to 161
Relative density
 What is relative density?
 The term relative density is often used to compare the density between two fluids.
 In most cases, this involves comparing the density of a fluid to that of water; however, it could be
any other substance.
 The relative density of a substance is the ratio between its density and the density of water.
• Relative density = density of substance / density of water.
Notice relative density has no units since it is a ratio.
 If we are comparing two identical volumes of fluids then the relative density can be calculated as the
ratio of the masses of the same volume of fluid:
• relative density = mass of substance / mass of equal volume of water
Pressure in fluids
Pressure in fluids in general:
• Pressure increases with depth.
• At any given depth the pressure is equal in all directions. p = hρg
What about the effect of atmospheric pressure?
The pressure on the swimmer would be the sum of the pressure due to the fluid and the atmospheric
pressure.
• p = patm + hρfluid g
Pascal’s principle
 The pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted to every part of the fluid, as well as to the
walls of the container without reducing in value.
 Pascal’s principle is used in the design and construction of simple hydraulic machines. Two different
sized pistons, which form part of a hydraulic system.

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 Hydraulic machines/press
Pascal’s principle has many applications; one of the simplest is the hydraulic lift.
 This is used to lift a heavy object (such as a car) off the ground. Just like our example, a small force
is applied to a smaller area piston.
 This creates a pressure inside a hydraulic fluid, which is transferred to a larger area piston. This
piston creates a much larger force and, if the object to be lifted sits on top of the large piston, the
smaller force at the smaller area piston can easily lift it.
Hydraulic presses and Hydraulic brakes (in cars).
 Hydraulic presses are used to shape metal (e.g. make motor-car bodies), to press waste paper or
cotton wool into bales of small size, to press oil from oil seeds, and to lift cars so that work can be
done easily underneath.
A car’s hydraulic brakes work in a similar way. By pressing the foot on the brake pedal, a small force is
applied to a piston with a small diameter. The pressure is transmitted through oil pipes to pistons of large
diameter on the car wheels. These push the brake pads against the brake discs to stop the wheels.
Measuring the pressure of a fluid
Absolute pressure
the absolute pressure is the actual pressure at a given point. It is the true pressure of a system if all of the
factors are taken in to account (including atmospheric pressure).
Atmospheric pressure
it has a value of 101 kPa. Atmospheric pressure varies depending on the temperature, the altitude above sea
level and the impact of weather systems.
Gauge pressure
Pressure gauges often give readings of gauge pressure rather than absolute pressure. Gauge pressure is the
pressure difference between a system and atmospheric pressure
• pg= ps– patm
• pg= gauge pressure, ps = system pressure (the absolute pressure of the system being measured), patm =
atmospheric pressure.
Measuring pressure
most modern techniques use electronic pressure sensors. However, there are two other common mechanical
techniques.
Bourdon gauge
A Bourdon gauge is a more practical instrument for measuring the pressure of a gas.
Manometer
a manometer is a simple instrument often used to measure the pressure of a gas supply in a container. It
comprises a U-shaped tube open at both ends. The tube is filled with a liquid.
If one side of the manometer is connected to a system under pressure, the liquid will move. For example, if
one end were connected to a gas supply the liquid would be pushed down as the supply is at a greater
pressure than the surrounding atmosphere.

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Wednesday, April 01, 2020(READ IT DEEPLY)
Page range from 162 to 164
Sub topic/s ፡- Forces in fluids
Objects seem less heavy in water. There is a force from the water that pushes you up, acting against
gravity. This force is called a buoyant force (or sometimes-up thrust). It arises because as pressure
increases with depth if you immerse an object in a fluid the pressure on the bottom will be greater
than the pressure on the top.
This can be shown by considering the equation, p = hρg. The difference in pressure can be found by
using:
• Δp = Δhρg
This difference in pressure means there is a difference in force acting on the top and bottom of the
object. The force on the bottom is greater and so there is net force upwards.
The size of the buoyant force (Fb) depends on a number of factors including the density of the fluid
and the volume of the object. A buoyant force is not just limited to liquids. Air also provides a
buoyant force but it is very small (as the density of air is much less than that of water).
In order for it to have a significant effect, the volume of the object must be huge. Hot air balloons
‘float’ in the air due to the buoyant force of the air pushing them up, acting against their weight.
Apparent weight
as we mentioned earlier, objects immersed in water (or any liquid) appear to weigh less. Obviously
their weight has not changed (w= mg) but they now have an apparent weight. The buoyant force
pushes upwards, acting against the objects weight and so the weight appears to drop.
• Apparent weight = weight – buoyant force
this equation is more commonly used to determine the buoyant force acting on an object:
• buoyant force = weight – apparent weight

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Thursday, April 02, 2020(READ IT DEEPLY)
Page range from 164 to 168
Sub topic/s ፡- Archimedes’s principle
• any object, wholly or partially immersed in a fluid, is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid
displaced by the object.
In other words, the buoyant force acting on an object is equal to the weight of the displaced liquid.
• Buoyant force = weight of displaced fluid
The greater the volume of liquid displaced the greater the buoyant force.
We can modify our equation for apparent weight in light of Archimedes’ principle:
• apparent weight = weight – buoyant force
• buoyant force = weight of displaced fluid
• apparent weight = weight – weight of displaced fluid
Floating and sinking
Whether or not an object floats or sinks depends on the weight of the object and the size of the buoyant
force acting on the object.
In order to float an object must displace a volume of fluid (liquid or gas) equal to its own weight. This is
called the law of flotation.
If the weight of the volume of fluid displaced is equal to the weight of the object then the object will float.
A large steel ship is able to float because it displaces such a large volume of water. This volume of water has
the same weight as the ship.
When you step into a small boat, you might notice the boat sinks down a little in the water. This is because
as the weight of the boat increases, it needs to displace a greater volume of liquid in order to float, and so it
sinks down lower in the water. A heavily loaded boat sits much lower in the water than a lightly loaded
boat.
For safety reasons, when the ship is fully loaded the level of the water must not be above the Plimsoll line.
If, even when fully immersed, the weight of the volume of liquid displaced is less than the weight of the
object, then the object will sink.
A small cube of steel does not displace enough water to float. However, if you hammer out the steel into a
bowl shape it displaces greater volume of water and so will float.
In other words, if the density of the object is greater than the density of the fluid it will sink. This means we
need to consider the relative density between the object and the liquid. If the relative density is less than
one the object will float (as the weight of the object will be less than the weight of the volume of liquid it

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displaces). If the relative density is more than one the object will sink (as the weight of the object will be
more than the weight of the volume of liquid it displaces).
• w = mg and ρ = m / V
• weight of object = m object g and so weight of object = ρ object g
• weight of displaced liquid = m fluid g and so weight of displaced fluid = ρfluidVfluid g
If the object is floating then:
• buoyant force = weight of displaced liquid = weight of object So:
• ρ object V object g = ρfluidVfluid g Or • ρobjectVobject = ρfluidVfluid
This equation only applies if the object is floating.
Summary
Unit summary
In this section, you have learnt that:
• A fluid is any substance that can flow. This includes gases as well as liquids.
• Gases may be compressed but liquids are incompressible.
• Density is defined as the mass per unit volume and it may be calculated
using the equation ρ = m / V. Density is measured in kg/m3.
• The relative density of a substance is the density of the substance compared
to another (e.g. compared to water).
• In fluids the pressure increases with depth and is the same in all directions.
• In fluids the pressure due to the fluid is equal to p = hρg.
The total pressure is equal to the pressure due to the fluid plus atmospheric pressure.
• Pascal’s principle states that liquids transfer pressure from one place to another without any
reduction in pressure.
• Gauge pressure is the difference between absolute pressure and atmospheric pressure.
• A manometer is a simple U-shaped tube filled with liquid used to measure pressure.
• The apparent weight of a body is equal to the weight of the
Object minus the buoyant force acting on it.
• Archimedes’s principle states that the weight of the displaced fluid is equal to the buoyant force
acting on the object.
• The principle of flotation states if the buoyant force (or weight of displaced fluid) is equal to the
weight of the object then the object will float.
• If the object is floating then the density of the floating object can be calculated from
ρobjectVobject = ρfluidVfluid where Vfluid is the volume of the displaced fluid.

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Friday, April 03, 2020 (please answer all the given problems)
Page range from 169 to 170
Sub topic/s ፡- Review questions of end of unit 6 questions
1. Explain what the term fluid means and give three examples.
2. Calculate the pressure caused by seawater when diving to a depth of 100 m. What is the total
pressure acting on the diver?
3. State Pascal’s principle and describe one of its applications
4. Two pistons are connected together to make a hydraulic lift. The smaller piston has an area of 0.05
m2 and the larger piston has an area of 2 m2. Calculate the following:
a) The pressure in the fluid and the force at the larger piston if the force on the smaller piston
is 50 N.
b) The pressure in the fluid and the force from the smaller piston required to lift a car of mass 1200 kg.
5. Describe the relationship between the buoyant force and the weight of an object if the object:
a) Is floating
b) Is sinking
c) Is rising up through the water. nit questions
1. An elephant has a mass of 3200 kg. Each of its feet covers an area equal to 0.08 m2. Calculate the
pressure from each foot.
2. Describe what causes pressure in gases in terms of the particles in the gas.
3. Describe some similarities and difference between liquids and gases.
4. How deep under water would you need to be in order to be at double atmospheric pressure.
5. Explain the meaning of the terms atmospheric pressure, absolute pressure and gauge pressure.
6. Describe the use of a manometer and calculate the pressure of a gas supply that causes a column of
water 15 cm high.
7. State Archimedes’ principle and explain how this leads to the law of flotation.
8. Explain why a heavily loaded boat sinks lower in the water.
9. The weight of an object is measured in air to be 7.0 N. The object is then immersed in water and
its apparent weight is measured to be 4.0 N. Determine the buoyant force and state whether the
object floats.
10. A large ocean liner floating in the sea has a volume of 375 000 m2 and displaces 50 000 m2 of
seawater. Determine the density and mass of the ship. Explain why, despite being made of metal, the
ship is able to float.
Have a nice weekend.
All end questions are from your textbook on page 170
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