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AQA GCSE · Question 04.1 · Forces
A submarine descends from the surface of the sea. Explain what happens to the pressure on the submarine.
A submarine descends from the surface of the sea. Explain what happens to the pressure on the submarine.
How to approach this question
1. State whether the pressure increases, decreases, or stays the same.
2. Explain why. Think about what is causing the pressure. What is above the submarine?
3. How does the amount of this "stuff" above the submarine change as it descends?
Full Answer
As the submarine descends, the pressure on it increases.
Pressure within a fluid is caused by the weight of the fluid particles above. The deeper an object goes, the greater the height of the column of fluid above it. This taller column of water has more mass and therefore a greater weight. This increased weight acts on the same surface area of the submarine, resulting in a higher pressure. The relationship is described by the equation p = hρg, where p is pressure, h is depth, ρ is density, and g is gravitational field strength. This shows that pressure (p) is directly proportional to depth (h).
Common mistakes
✗ Simply saying "it gets deeper" without linking depth to the weight or height of the water column.\n✗ Stating that pressure decreases.\n✗ Confusing pressure with force or density.
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