Pressure and hydraulics

This is a fully-resourced lesson that looks at how pressure can be calculated using force and area and then explores how hydraulics are used to transmit a force through a fluid and challenges the students to apply the given equation to calculate the force or area. The lesson includes a lesson presentation (18 slides) and a question worksheet which has been differentiated two ways.

The lesson begins by challenging the students to use an answer to a calculation question to work out the equation that links pressure, force and area. A range of mathematical skills are tested throughout the lesson, such as converting between units and rearranging formula, and then the answers are fully explained so any student who was unable to move through the question can visualise the method. Moving forwards, students will be introduced to a hydraulics system and the equation which they will be given on the sheet in the exam. Students will use the equation to calculate the force or area at the second point of the system. This task has been differentiated so that students who find it difficult are still able to access the learning.

This lesson has been written for GCSE aged students