Pressure: OCR GCSE Physics A questions

Every OCR GCSE Physics A exam question on P1.3 Pressure, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 66 questions on Pressure, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7 (1 mark): What is a correct unit for pressure? kg m / s2 A B N m C N / m D Pa Your answer [1]
June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(e)(i) (4 marks): Complete the sentences to describe what happens to the air in the bottle. Use words from the list. decreases increases stays the same The mass of the air . The
June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(e)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest what might happen to the shape of the sealed plastic bottle if it is kept in the icy water for a long time. [1]
June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): An object is 1.0 m below the surface of a swimming pool. Which statement describes the vertical forces acting on the object if it is not moving? A Upthrust = wa
June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q11 (1 mark): A scientist investigates how pressure changes with temperature for a fixed volume of gas. Which graph shows the relationship between pressure and temperature fo
June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q14 (1 mark): Calculate the change in pressure when a diver moves from a depth of 3.0 m to a depth of 7.0 m. Use the Equation Sheet. Gravitational field strength = 10 N / kg
June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q24(a) (1 mark): Which statement correctly compares the pressure in the cylinders? Tick (✓) one box. Pressure in cylinder A > pressure in cylinder B Pressure in cylinder A < pre
June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q24(b) (4 marks): Piston A has an area of 2.0 × 10–4 m2. Piston B has an area of 10 × 10–4 m2. A force F of 1000 N is applied to the liquid by piston A. Calculate the minimum for
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(a) (4 marks): The diagram shows gas molecules exerting a pressure when they collide with the walls of a container. Complete each sentence to explain how gas pressure changes
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(b) (3 marks): Scientists often use models to help develop explanations and solve problems. Which statements describe a simple model of the Earth’s atmosphere? Tick (✓) three
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(c) (2 marks): Calculate the constant for a gas with a volume of 1.5 m3 and a pressure of 5000 Pa. Use the equation: pressure × volume = constant Constant = Pa m3 [2]
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q21(a)(i) (1 mark): At what angle to the side of the bottle does the water flow out? [1]
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q21(a)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why the water flows out of the bottle at this angle. [1]
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q21(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the pressure exerted on the ground. Use the Equation Sheet. Pressure = Pa [3]
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q21(b)(ii) (1 mark): The force is kept constant and the area the force acts on is halved. What happens to the pressure exerted on the ground? [1]
June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q12 (1 mark): Which statement describes a simple model of the Earth’s atmosphere? A It covers the Earth to a height of about 700 km and is of uniform density. B It covers the
June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(a) (1 mark): A teacher connects a sealed syringe of gas with a moveable piston to a pressure gauge as shown in Fig. 20.1. Fig. 20.1 Moveable piston Syringe Pressure gauge St
June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(b)(i) (3 marks): The teacher also has a gas enclosed in a container as shown in Fig. 20.2. Fig. 20.2 Moveable piston Container Gas The teacher slowly moves the piston outwards u
June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(b)(ii) (4 marks): When the volume of a gas is 2.4 × 10–4 m3, the pressure is 2.5 × 104 Pa. Calculate the volume when the pressure is 1.5 × 105 Pa. Use the Equation Sheet. Volume
June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(c) (3 marks): Explain why a bicycle pump gets warmer when it is used to inflate a tyre. [3]
June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(a) (2 marks): Explain why some objects float and some objects sink in a liquid. [2]
June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(d) (2 marks): A swimmer in a pool dives from a depth of 0.5 m to a depth of 2.0 m. Calculate the change in pressure the swimmer experiences. Use the Equation Sheet. Gravitati
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q21(b)(ii) (3 marks): Student A stands on one foot when they leave the seesaw. The area of their foot in contact with the ground is 2.5 × 10–2 m2. Calculate the pressure student A ex
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(a) (3 marks): Explain how these results show that pressure × volume = constant. Use calculations in your answer. [3]
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(b)(i) (1 mark): Plot the missing point on the graph. [1]
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(b)(ii) (1 mark): Draw a line of best fit on the graph. [1]
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(b)(iii) (1 mark): Use the graph to find the volume of gas at 900 kPa. Volume of gas = cm3 [1]
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(c) (2 marks): Explain how and why atmospheric pressure changes with height above the surface of the Earth. [2]
June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q12 (1 mark): A submarine in an ocean dives from a depth of 50 m to a depth of 60 m. What is the change in pressure due to the water acting on the submarine? Use the Equation
June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(a) (3 marks): Explain how these results show that pressure × volume = constant. Use calculations in your answer. [3]
June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(b)(i) (1 mark): Plot the missing point on the graph. [1]
June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(b)(ii) (1 mark): Draw a line of best fit on the graph. [1]
June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(b)(iii) (1 mark): Use the graph to find the volume of gas at 900 kPa. Volume of gas = cm3 [1]
June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(c) (2 marks): Explain how and why atmospheric pressure changes with height above the surface of the Earth. [2]
June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7 (1 mark): Why does atmospheric pressure decrease as the height above the Earth’s surface increases? A The distance from the equator decreases. B The number of air molecul
June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q11 (1 mark): The diagram shows a gas in a sealed syringe. The plunger is pushed half-way into the syringe. The gas temperature stays constant. Before After Plunger Plunger G
June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): A teacher measures the pressure and volume of a fixed gas at a constant temperature. A B Pressure Pressure Volume Volume C D Pressure Pressure Volume Volume Whi
June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): The diagram shows when a hydraulic machine uses a liquid to transmit a force. When piston X is pressed, the force is transmitted and piston Y moves. The area of
June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q14 (1 mark): An object floating in water experiences an upwards force. What causes this upwards force on the object? A Pressure at the top of the object is greater than at t
June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q15 (1 mark): A submarine travels to the bottom of an ocean. The ocean is 2.5 km deep and the density of the sea water is 1020 kg / m3. What is the water pressure on the subm
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(a) (3 marks): Complete each sentence to explain how temperature affects the pressure of a gas. You can use each word once, more than once, or not at all. area distance energy
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(b) (3 marks): A student investigates how pressure and volume are linked for a gas at a fixed temperature. Their results are shown in Table 18.1. Volume (cm3) Pressure (kPa) 2
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(c) (1 mark): Explain why atmospheric pressure decreases with height above the surface of the Earth. [1]
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q21(b)(i) (3 marks): On Earth the astronaut has a weight of 600 N. Their feet have a total area of 0.3 m2 in contact with the ground. Calculate the pressure they exert on the ground
November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): A fluid under pressure causes a force. In which direction does the net force always act? A At right angles to any surface. B In the opposite direction to the gr
November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q15 (1 mark): A simple hydraulic machine containing water is made from two pistons connected together with plastic tubing. The cross-sectional area of piston Y is twice the c
November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(a) (4 marks): The air in a car tyre has a pressure of 200 kPa. A driver notices that after a long journey the pressure in the tyre has increased. They think this is because t
November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(b) (2 marks): A student writes down a simple model of the Earth’s atmosphere. Simple model of the Earth’s atmosphere • The atmosphere is a single layer of gas that covers the
November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q13 (1 mark): A student measures the weight of four boxes and the area in contact with the ground. Area (cm2) Box Weight (N) A 50 100 B 75 250 C 90 400 D 100 500 Which box ex
November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(a) (2 marks): The student thinks that pressure multiplied by volume is always equal to the same number. Explain why the student is correct. Use data from the graph to support
November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(b) (2 marks): Complete the sentences to explain how volume and pressure are related. Use words from the list. You can use each word once, more than once, or not at all. doubl
November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(c) (2 marks): The student then investigates how temperature and pressure of a gas are linked. The student measures the pressure of a gas as its temperature increases. The res
November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q4 (1 mark): An elephant has a weight of 60 kN. Its four feet have a total area of 0.75 m2 in contact with the ground. Calculate the total pressure the elephant exerts on th
November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): Which statement explains why atmospheric pressure changes as you climb up a mountain? A Number of air molecules above you decrease the further you move from the
November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q14 (1 mark): What is the change in pressure when a diver moves from a depth of 3.0 m to a depth of 8.0 m? Assume gravitational field strength on Earth = 10 N / kg and water
November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(d) (3 marks): A boat can be made out of concrete. Explain why a concrete boat floats but a lump of concrete sinks. [3]
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q13 (1 mark): A cylinder contains a gas. The volume of the gas is halved and the temperature remains the same. What happens to the pressure of the gas? A It remains the same.
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(b) (2 marks): The 2.0 N weight has a surface area of 0.005 m2. Calculate the pressure when it is placed on a surface. Use the equation: pressure = force normal to a surface ÷
June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q22(a) (3 marks): Which two readings are for the same mass of the same gas at a constant temperature? Use calculations in your answer. [3]
June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q22(b) (3 marks): The student investigates another gas at constant volume. Explain, using ideas about particles, how temperature affects gas pressure. [3]
June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q22(c) (3 marks): Calculate the pressure at the bottom of a 0.5 m tall measuring cylinder filled with a liquid. Density of the liquid = 1100 kg / m3. Pressure = Pa [3]
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q12 (1 mark): These statements are about pressure and volume of a gas. Which statement is correct? A Volume doubles, pressure doubles B Volume doubles, pressure halves C Volu
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q21(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the pressure in the fluid. Answer = Pa [3]
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q21(b)(ii) (1 mark): Write down the direction of the force produced by the fluid on the plunger. [1]
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q21(a) (3 marks): A car has a total weight of 12 000 N. It has four tyres which each have an area of 25 cm2 in contact with the road. Calculate the pressure of the car on the roa
June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q3 (1 mark): A fluid is compressed by pushing the plunger into the body of a sealed syringe. Body Nozzle Plunger Fluid Which of these statements is true? A There is a net fo

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