Question

The pressure of a gas contained in a cylinder with a movable piston is 300 Pa. The area of the

piston is 0.5 m2

. Calculate the force that is exerted on the piston.

Answer 1

Pressure = 300 Pa    Area of Cross-section = 0.5 m²
Force = Pressure × Area of Cross-section
         = 300 Pa × 0.5 m²
         = 150 N

Answer 2

Given:

• Pressure of gas on movable piston is 300 Pascal.
• Area of piston = 0.5 m².

To find:

Force exerted by piston ?

Calculation:

• Pressure is a scalar quantity characterized by the force distributed over unit surface area.

• That means , pressure is force divided by area.

$\therefore \: Pressure = \dfrac{Force}{area}$

$\implies\: Force = Pressure \times area$

$\implies\: Force =300 \times 0.5$

$\implies\: Force =150 \: N$

So, force exerted by piston is 150 N.