Under pressure – force and pressure calculations
This KS3 pressure worksheet consists of five tasks that help KS3 physics students to understand the relationship between pressure, force and surface area and that give them practice in calculating pressure in different contexts.
The first two tasks introduce the pressure equation and ask students to rearrange the equation.
The third task is a practical activity in which students work out their force in Newtons and the surface area of their feet in contact with the floor so that they can calculate the pressure that they exert on the ground. They are asked to consider how they could decrease or increase the pressure that they exert.
In the final two tasks, students decide whether everyday examples involve high pressure or low pressure and work out the pressure being exerted.
For teaching resources on air pressure and the particle model, see our KS3 and GCSE Forces collection.
An extract from this key stage 3 pressure worksheet:
Task 4 – High pressure or low pressure?
Read through the following situations and decide whether the pressure would be high or low. Write high or low next to each situation:
- Ice skates have a thin blade in contact with the ice.
- Snow shoes are large to stop people sinking when walking on the snow.
- Camels’ feet are large and padded so they do not sink into the sand.
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