Study Material — 1 PYQs (2024–2024) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
NDA Physics — Everyday Concepts is a frequently tested subtopic — 1 previous year questions from 2024–2024 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
Pressure = Force ÷ Area. When you press a drawing pin into a board, the sharp point creates high pressure because the same force is concentrated on a tiny area. This is why pins pierce easily but your finger pressing with the same force cannot
💡Key Properties
Pressure is directly proportional to force and inversely proportional to area. Double the force, double the pressure. Double the area, halve the pressure. Pressure acts in all directions in fluids (Pascal's Law).
At any point in a stationary fluid, pressure is the same in all directions.
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Formula Block
Memorise — at least one formula appears in every paper
Pressure (P) = Force (F) ÷ Area (A)
Fluid Pressure = Density × g × Height
Atmospheric Pressure = 1.013 × 10^5 Pa = 760 mm Hg
Units: Pascal (Pa), N/m², Bar, Atmosphere, mm Hg
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Exam Patterns
What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC asks about atmospheric pressure values, pressure applications (hydraulic systems, barometers), and calculation problems. Questions often involve pressure differences at heights, pressure in liquids, and practical applications like syringes, pumps.
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Shortcuts
Use these to save 30–60 seconds per question
Remember 'FAPA' - Force and Area are in Pressure Always. Increase Force = Increase Pressure. Increase Area = Decrease Pressure.
For fluid pressure, remember 'DGH' - Density × Gravity × Height.
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Worked Example
Solve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Identify given values - Force = 200 N, Area = 4 m²
2
Step 2
Apply formula - Pressure = Force ÷ Area
3
Step 3
Substitute values - Pressure = 200 ÷ 4
4
Step 4
Calculate - Pressure = 50 N/m² or 50 Pa
Another Example: If the same 200 N force acts on 2 m² area instead:
Pressure = 200 ÷ 2 = 100 Pa
Notice: Half the area means double the pressure.
Shortcut for Unit Conversion: 1 Bar = 10^5 Pa. For quick conversion, Bar to Pa - add 5 zeros. Pa to Bar - remove 5 zeros.
Common Mistakes: Students often confuse force with pressure. Remember - force is push or pull, pressure is force per unit area. Another mistake is forgetting that liquid pressure depends on depth (height of liquid column), not the total volume. A thin tube and wide tank at same depth have equal pressure at bottom.
Practical Applications tested: Hydraulic brakes work on Pascal's law. Barometers measure atmospheric pressure. Syringes work due to pressure difference. Mountain climbers face low pressure at heights. Deep sea divers face high pressure underwater.
Key Points to Remember
Pressure = Force ÷ Area - fundamental formula for all pressure calculations
Atmospheric pressure at sea level = 1.013 × 10^5 Pa = 760 mm Hg
Liquid pressure = Density × g × Height, independent of container shape
Pascal's Law: Pressure applied to confined fluid transmits equally in all directions
High pressure created by small area (needle, knife) for cutting applications
Pressure decreases with altitude - 1% decrease per 80m height gain
Barometer measures atmospheric pressure using mercury column height
Hydraulic systems multiply force using pressure and area relationship
Exam-Specific Tips
Standard atmospheric pressure = 1.013 × 10^5 Pascal = 1.013 Bar
Mercury barometer reading at sea level = 760 mm Hg = 76 cm Hg
Pressure unit Pascal named after French scientist Blaise Pascal
1 Bar = 10^5 Pascal = 0.987 atmosphere approximately
Density of mercury = 13,600 kg/m³ used in barometer calculations
Blood pressure measured in mm Hg using sphygmomanometer
Pressure at 10m underwater depth = 2 atmospheric pressure
Hydraulic jack multiplies force based on area ratio principle
Practice MCQs
Physics — Everyday Concepts — Practice Questions
19graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis
A 2 kg object is pushed with a force of 10 N on a frictionless surface. What is the acceleration of the object?
Practice 2medium
A person standing on the ground experiences a normal force. This normal force is an example of which type of force?
Practice 3medium
When a ball is thrown vertically upward and returns to the same height, what is the net displacement of the ball?
Practice 4medium
A person pushes a heavy box across a rough floor at constant velocity. Which statement correctly describes the net force acting on the box?
Practice 5medium
Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between mass and inertia?
Practice 6medium
A ball is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 20 m/s. Assuming g = 10 m/s², what is the maximum height reached by the ball?
Practice 7medium
Which of the following is the SI unit of force?
Practice 8medium
A car traveling at 72 km/h applies brakes and comes to rest in 5 seconds. What is the magnitude of deceleration?
Practice 9medium
What is the SI unit of pressure?
Practice 10hard
A spring with spring constant k = 100 N/m is compressed by 0.2 m. What is the elastic potential energy stored in the spring?
Practice 11hard
A sound wave travels through air at a speed of 340 m/s. If the frequency of the sound is 170 Hz, what is the wavelength of the sound wave?
Practice 12hard
A student observes that when a steel ball is dropped from a height of 20 meters, it takes 2 seconds to reach the ground. Ignoring air resistance, what is the approximate value of acceleration due to gravity at that location?
Practice 13hard
A 5 kg object is pushed horizontally on a frictionless surface with a force of 20 N. What is the acceleration of the object?
Practice 14hard
A ray of light travels from air (refractive index = 1) into glass (refractive index = 1.5) at an angle of incidence of 30°. According to Snell's Law, what is the angle of refraction in the glass?
Practice 15hard
A 2 kg block is lifted vertically upward at constant velocity. What is the tension in the rope holding the block? (Use g = 10 m/s²)
Practice 16hard
A car traveling at 20 m/s brakes uniformly and comes to rest in 4 seconds. What is the magnitude of deceleration?
Practice 17hard
A steel ball is dropped from a height of 80 meters above the ground. Neglecting air resistance and taking g = 10 m/s², what is the velocity of the ball just before it hits the ground?
Practice 18hard
A 5 kg object is placed on a frictionless horizontal surface and pushed with a force of 20 N. What is the acceleration of the object?
Practice 19hard
A light ray travels from air (refractive index = 1.0) into glass (refractive index = 1.5) at an angle of incidence of 30°. Using Snell's Law, what is the angle of refraction in the glass?
60-Second Revision — Physics — Everyday Concepts
Formula: Pressure = Force ÷ Area, units Pascal or N/m²
Remember: 1 atm = 1.013 × 10^5 Pa = 760 mm Hg
Liquid pressure depends only on depth, not container shape or volume
Pascal's Law: Pressure transmits equally in all directions in fluids
Applications: Hydraulic brakes, barometers, syringes all use pressure principles
Trap: Don't confuse force with pressure - pressure is force per unit area
Quick conversion: 1 Bar = 10^5 Pa (add/remove 5 zeros)