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Leaving Cert Physics: Density and pressure

How often Density and pressure comes up on the Physics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 6 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

OL Asked on 9 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Physics course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Density and pressure, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Density and pressure.

(a)SI unit of pressure?
  1. Newton metre (N m)
  2. Pascal (Pa)
  3. kg m⁻³
(b)Density, in kg m⁻³, of a block of mass 500 g and volume 250 cm³?
  1. 500 kg m⁻³
  2. 2.0 kg m⁻³
  3. 2000 kg m⁻³
(c)A block of volume 2.0 × 10⁻³ m³ is fully under water (ρ = 1000 kg m⁻³, g = 9.8 m s⁻²). What is the upthrust on it?
  1. 19.6 N
  2. 9.8 N
  3. 2.0 N
Show the answers

(a) Pascal (Pa)

(b) 2000 kg m⁻³

(c) 19.6 N

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Density and pressure.

Higher Level

Asked on 6 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q1, Q6(c)
2025Q6(a), Q6(f)
2024Not asked
2023Q14(a)
2022Q2, Q6(a), Q6(c)
2021Not asked
2019Q5(b)
2018Not asked
2017Q5(a)
2016Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Density and pressure questions

Density and pressure, 3 marks

State Archimedes' principle.

  1. Pressure at a point in a fluid acts equally in all directions
  2. The pressure in a fluid increases with depth and with the fluid's density
  3. The upthrust on a body in a fluid equals the weight of the fluid it displaces
Show the answer

The upthrust on a body in a fluid equals the weight of the fluid it displaces

If the upthrust equals the body's weight the body floats. The other two statements are true of fluids, but neither is Archimedes' principle.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 9 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q6(e)
2025Q2, Q6(d)
2024Q6(c)
2023Q9
2022Not asked
2021Q2, Q6(c)
2019Q5(d), Q6
2018Q1, Q11
2017Q12(c)
2016Q5(a), Q5(c)

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Density and pressure questions

Density and pressure, 3 marks

Density of a stone of mass 3 kg and volume 0.001 m³?

  1. 0.003 kg m⁻³
  2. 333 kg m⁻³
  3. 3000 kg m⁻³
Show the answer

3000 kg m⁻³

ρ = m ÷ V = 3 ÷ 0.001 = 3000 kg m⁻³. 0.003 comes from multiplying instead of dividing.

Density and pressure, 2 marks

Why are tractors fitted with very wide tyres?

  1. To reduce the weight of the tractor on the ground
  2. To spread the weight over a large area and lower the pressure
  3. To increase the pressure the tractor puts on the ground
Show the answer

To spread the weight over a large area and lower the pressure

P = F ÷ A. A bigger area gives a smaller pressure for the same weight, so the tractor does not sink into soft ground.

Density and pressure, 2 marks

Define pressure.

  1. Force per unit area
  2. Force multiplied by area
  3. Mass per unit volume
Show the answer

Force per unit area

P = F ÷ A, unit the pascal (Pa), where 1 Pa = 1 N m⁻². Mass per unit volume is density.

Other Physics topics

All of Leaving Cert Physics