Practise Pressure now
40 original JAMB Physics questions on Pressure, with instant scoring and worked explanations. Free, no sign-up.
Start Pressure practice → Timed test All Physics topicsWhat Pressure covers in the JAMB Physics syllabus
Pressure = force ÷ area, measured in pascals (Pa = N/m²). A small area concentrates force into high pressure (a sharp knife, high heels), while a large area spreads it out. In a liquid, pressure = ρgh (density × gravity × depth), acts equally in all directions, and increases with depth — which is why dam walls are thicker at the base. Pascal's principle (pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted equally throughout) underlies the hydraulic press, which multiplies force. Atmospheric pressure, measured with a barometer, supports about 76 cm of mercury and falls with altitude; a manometer measures gas pressure.
For Pressure, JAMB expects you to be able to:
- Define and calculate pressure, including in liquids (ρgh)
- Apply Pascal's principle and the hydraulic press
- Explain atmospheric pressure, its measurement and everyday pressure effects
Key facts & revision notes: Pressure
These are the recurring points our Pressure questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.
- Pressure = force ÷ area, measured in pascals (N/m²).
- The pascal (Pa), equal to 1 N/m², is the SI unit of pressure.
- Pressure = force/area = 200/4 = 50 Pa.
- Pressure in a liquid at depth h = ρgh (density × gravity × depth).
- At a given depth, liquid pressure acts equally in all directions.
- The sharp edge has a very small area, so the same force produces much greater pressure.
- Liquid pressure depends on depth and density (ρgh), not on the container's shape or base area.
- P = ρgh = 1000 × 10 × 5 = 50000 Pa.
- A barometer measures atmospheric pressure (often using a mercury column).
- A manometer measures the pressure of an enclosed gas.
- Standard atmospheric pressure supports about 76 cm (760 mm) of mercury.
- Pascal's principle: pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted undiminished in all directions.
- A hydraulic press multiplies force using Pascal's principle of pressure transmission in fluids.
- Higher up, there is less air above, so atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing altitude.
- P = ρgh = 800 × 10 × 2 = 16000 Pa.
- Water pressure increases with depth (ρgh), so the base must withstand the greatest pressure.
- Since pressure = force/area, a larger area reduces the pressure for the same force.
- Pressure is equal, so F₂ = F₁ × (A₂/A₁) = 50 × (20/2) = 50 × 10 = 500 N.
- Liquid pressure (ρgh) depends on depth, density and g — not on the container's area.
- The tiny contact area of heels produces very high pressure, so they sink into soft ground.
- Pressure = force/area = 500/2 = 250 Pa.
- A pascal is one newton per square metre.
- P = ρgh = 1000 × 10 × 10 = 100 000 Pa.
- Liquid pressure rises with depth.
Worked examples
Three Pressure questions with the answer and a short explanation, so you can see how the topic is set before you practise the full set.
Q. Pressure is defined as:
- A. force × area
- B. force ÷ area ✓
- C. force × distance
- D. mass ÷ volume
Answer: B. Pressure = force ÷ area, measured in pascals (N/m²).
Q. The pressure at a depth h in a liquid of density ρ is given by:
- A. ρgh ✓
- B. ρg/h
- C. ρh/g
- D. mgh
Answer: A. Pressure in a liquid at depth h = ρgh (density × gravity × depth).
Q. The pressure exerted by a column of liquid depends on:
- A. the shape of the container
- B. the volume only
- C. the area of the base
- D. the depth and density of the liquid ✓
Answer: D. Liquid pressure depends on depth and density (ρgh), not on the container's shape or base area.
Q. The SI unit of pressure is the:
- A. newton
- B. pascal ✓
- C. joule
- D. bar
Answer: B. The pascal (Pa), equal to 1 N/m², is the SI unit of pressure.
How Pressure is tested in JAMB Physics
Our Pressure bank holds 40 questions (10 easy, 24 medium, 6 hard). JAMB Physics typically returns to Pressure year after year, so steady practice on this topic is high-value revision. Questions are multiple-choice with four options, and at UTME pace you get roughly 40 seconds each — which is why timed practice matters.
How to answer Pressure questions
Work the stem first and predict the answer before you look at the options; then eliminate the ones that contradict the key facts above. Watch for “which is not…”, “all of the above” and “except” style stems, which are where rushed candidates lose easy marks on Pressure. If a calculation or a precise definition is involved, work it from first principles rather than guessing from a half-remembered rule. When two options look right, re-read the stem for the qualifier that separates them — JAMB rarely repeats an option by accident. If you are still unsure, eliminate the two weakest choices to lift your odds, flag the question, and move on; never burn a full minute on one Physics item when the exam gives you about forty seconds each. Then come back to flagged questions with whatever time remains. The single most reliable way to get faster at Pressure is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.
Common mistakes to avoid in Pressure
The errors that cost marks on Pressure are usually careless rather than conceptual: misreading a negative stem, confusing two similar terms, or rushing a definition you actually know. Candidates also over-rely on “expo” and last-minute cramming instead of understanding the topic — which fails the moment JAMB rephrases a familiar idea. Treat every option as a claim to be checked against the facts above, keep your working tidy for any calculation, and don’t change a considered answer on a hunch. Above all, revise Pressure actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.
Keep going
Related Physics topics: Liquids at Rest: Density and Upthrust · Elasticity: Hooke's Law and Young's Modulus · Temperature and Its Measurement · Simple Machines · Quantity of Heat
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Frequently asked questions
Is Pressure part of the JAMB Physics syllabus?
Yes. Pressure is a recognised topic in the JAMB Physics syllabus, covering define and calculate pressure, including in liquids (ρgh). You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.
How many Pressure questions can I practise on Belmadeng?
There are 40 original, JAMB-standard Pressure questions in our free bank, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. You can practise them untimed or as a timed test.
What are the most important points to know about Pressure?
Pressure = force ÷ area, measured in pascals (Pa = N/m²). A small area concentrates force into high pressure (a sharp knife, high heels), while a large area spreads it out. In a liquid, pressure = ρgh (density × gravity × depth), acts equally in all directions, and increases with depth — which is wh…
How do I answer Pressure questions quickly in JAMB?
Read the stem carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and match the remaining choices to the key facts for Pressure. Practising timed Pressure questions builds the speed you need for UTME's pace of about 40 seconds per question.
Are these JAMB Physics Pressure questions past questions or original?
They are original questions written to JAMB (UTME) standard and mapped to the official syllabus — not reproduced past papers. This keeps them legal to use freely while closely mirroring how the real exam tests the topic.
Where can I practise Pressure questions free without signing up?
Right here — tap “Start Pressure practice” on this page to begin instantly. Belmadeng's CBT practice is completely free and needs no sign-up, download or subscription.
About these questions: original, JAMB-standard items written from the official UTME Physics syllabus (last reviewed 2026-09-18). Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with JAMB. Spotted an error? Use the report link.