GCSE & IGCSE physics practice

Pressure questions and answers

Pressure is force per unit area: $p = \dfrac{F}{A}$ , in pascals (Pa), where 1 Pa = 1 N/m². The same force on a smaller area gives a bigger pressure, which is why knives are sharp and snowshoes are wide. In a liquid, pressure increases with depth: $p = h\rho g$ .

8 questions · Foundation and Higher tier · Every answer is checked as you type it, with a full worked solution. Updated 27 Oct 2026.

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Where pressure comes up

GCSE (AQA)	GCSE Physics (not Combined Science). Recall p = F ÷ A (on AQA's list of equations to learn). Higher only: pressure due to a column of liquid, p = hρg, given on the equation sheet.
Cambridge IGCSE (0625)	Core: define pressure as force per unit area and recall and use p = F ÷ A. Supplement: recall and use Δp = ρgΔh for pressure beneath the surface of a liquid.

The method

p = F ÷ A. Rearranged: F = p × A and A = F ÷ p.
Area must be in m² for pascals: 1 m² = 10 000 cm².
If the force is a weight, work it out first: W = mg.
Liquids: p = h × ρ × g, with h the depth in m.

Pressure questions

Try each one before looking at the hint. If you're stuck, the AI tutor can talk you through it step by step.

Warm-up

Question 1Warm-upFoundation

A force of 600 N acts on an area of 2 m². Calculate the pressure.

Question 2Warm-upFoundation

A box exerts a pressure of 500 Pa over an area of 0.4 m². What force does it exert?

Exam-style

Question 3Exam-styleFoundation

A 700 N person stands on two feet with a total area of 0.035 m². Calculate the pressure on the floor.

Question 4Exam-styleFoundation

A force of 50 N acts on an area of 25 cm². Calculate the pressure in pascals.

Question 5Exam-styleFoundation

A hydraulic press produces a pressure of 400 000 Pa on a piston of area 0.05 m². What force does the piston exert?

Question 6Exam-styleFoundation

A 60 kg crate rests on a base of area 0.3 m². Calculate the pressure it exerts. ( $g = 9.8$ N/kg)

Challenge

Question 7ChallengeHigher

Calculate the pressure due to the water 5 m below the surface of a lake. (Density of water = 1000 kg/m³, $g = 9.8$ N/kg)

Question 8ChallengeHigher

A diver goes from 2 m to 12 m below the surface of seawater (density 1030 kg/m³). By how much does the pressure from the water increase? ( $g = 9.8$ N/kg)

Common mistakes

Converting cm² to m² by dividing by 100 (it's 10 000).
Using mass instead of weight as the force.
Using the height above the bottom instead of the depth below the surface.

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Sources

The questions are our own. The “where it comes up” notes are from each board's published specification, checked on 27 October 2026:

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