Pressure
What Pressure means in Physics GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Pressure
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Pressure in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: OCR
Force spread over the area in contact, measured in pascals (Pa), with force in newtons and area in square metres.
The force normal to a surface divided by the area of that surface, measured in pascals (Pa).
Measures how concentrated a force is over an area and is measured in pascals, Pa.
The normal force divided by the area over which it acts, measured in pascals.
Topics that use Pressure
- Pressure in a fluid 1 (AQA GCSE)
- Forces in action (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- Weight
- Area
- Area under a force–extension graph
- Clockwise and anticlockwise rotation
- Constant versus changing ratio
- elastic deformation
- Elastic limit
- Elastic limit and permanent deformation
Using Pressure in the exam
Check the command word and mark scheme for your exact question. After comparing your explanation with the reference, use the term in an answer on the linked topic. This practice does not predict an exam mark.
Practise Physics questions
Create a free account to answer exam-style questions on this topic and get feedback on your answers.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge