A cylindrical canister containing a sample of soil is placed on a flat workbench.
The total weight of the canister and the soil is 45 N45\text{ N}45 N. The circular base of the canister in contact with the workbench has an area of 18 cm218\text{ cm}^218 cm2.
Calculate the pressure exerted by the canister on the workbench.
pressure = ………………………………\dots\dots\dots\dots\dots\dots\dots\dots\dots\dots\dots\dots……………………………… N/cm2\text{N/cm}^2N/cm2
After removing the soil, a student seals the canister and connects it to a vacuum pump. The pump is switched on and extracts most of the air from inside the canister, causing it to collapse inward.
Explain why the canister collapses. Use your ideas about gas molecules.
188 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics Pressure, covering Pressure. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.