The atmosphere is a layer of gas surrounding the Earth. All that gas has weight, and that weight pushes down on everything at the surface — this is atmospheric pressure.
- At sea level, atmospheric pressure is approximately 101,000 Pa (101 kPa)
- Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude — as you go higher, there is less air above you, so the weight of air pushing down is smaller
- This is why aircraft cabins are pressurised and why mountaineers can struggle to breathe at altitude
- At the top of Mount Everest (~8,800 m), atmospheric pressure is only about one-third of sea level pressure
This deep dive covers Atmospheric Pressure within Pressure for GCSE Physics. Revise Pressure in Forces for GCSE Physics with 15 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 4 of 16 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Pressure
What is the correct equation for pressure?
Explain why a sharp knife cuts through food more easily than a blunt knife, even when the same force is applied to both.
Quick recall flashcards
What is the equation for pressure?
P = F / A
Pressure (Pa) = Force (N) ÷ Area (m²)
What is pressure?
The force acting per unit area on a surface.
P = F / A