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SSC CGL Physics — Everyday Concepts

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This page covers SSC CGL Physics — Everyday Concepts with complete concept notes, 26 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.

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Concept Notes

Physics — Everyday Concepts— Rules & Concept

1.Core Concept

Read this first — the foundation of the topic

Pressure is a fundamental physics concept that appears regularly in SSC CGL exams. It measures how much force is applied per unit area. Think of it as 'force concentration' - the same force spread over a smaller area creates higher pressure. Core Concept: 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.

2.Key Rules

Core rules you must know cold

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.

3.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

4.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.

5.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.

6.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.

7.Exam Traps

Common mistakes students make — avoid these

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

26graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 26

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Practice 1easy

Which of the following is the SI unit of electric current?

Practice 2easy

Which scientist formulated the law of universal gravitation?

Practice 3easy

Which of the following phenomena occurs when light bends while passing from one medium to another?

Practice 4easy

What is the SI unit of temperature?

Practice 5easy

What is the SI unit of force?

Practice 6easy

What is the SI unit of electric current?

Practice 7easy

Which physical quantity is measured in Hertz (Hz)?

Practice 8medium

At what temperature do Celsius and Fahrenheit scales show the same numerical value?

Practice 9medium

Which of the following is an example of a non-contact force?

Practice 10medium

What is the speed of light in vacuum according to the SI system?

Practice 11medium

Which physicist formulated the law of universal gravitation?

Practice 12medium

A person standing on the ground observes that the angle of elevation to the top of a building is 30°. If the person moves 10 meters closer to the building, the angle of elevation becomes 45°. What is the approximate height of the building?

Practice 13medium

What is the SI unit of pressure?

Practice 14medium

Which physical quantity is measured by the unit 'Pascal'?

Practice 15hard

In physics, the concept of 'work' is defined as the product of force and displacement in the direction of the force. If a constant force of 10 N is applied to move an object 5 meters in the direction of the force, how much work is done?

Practice 16hard

The phenomenon where light bends when passing from one medium to another is called refraction. Which of the following best describes the primary cause of refraction?

Practice 17hard

The refractive index of a medium is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in that medium. If the refractive index of glass is approximately 1.5, what is the speed of light in glass? (Speed of light in vacuum = 3 × 10⁸ m/s)

Practice 18hard

According to Newton's Third Law of Motion, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies this law in everyday life?

Practice 19hard

A person standing on the surface of Earth experiences a gravitational acceleration of approximately 9.8 m/s². If this same person were standing on the surface of Jupiter (assuming they could survive), where the gravitational acceleration is about 24.79 m/s², how would their weight change compared to Earth?

Practice 20hard

In the context of simple machines, mechanical advantage is the ratio of the load (output force) to the effort (input force). A lever with a mechanical advantage of 4 requires an effort of 50 N to lift a load. What is the approximate load being lifted?

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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)
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