Q.A 50 kg girl wearing high heel shoes balances on a single heel. The heel is circular with a diameter 1.0 cm. What is the pressure exerted by the heel on the horizontal floor?
🔒You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.
🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Bulk Modulus Application
Bulk Modulus: The Resistance to Squeezing
Imagine you have a sponge. When you squeeze it from all sides — say, by pushing it into a smaller space — it gets compressed. Now imagine a block of steel. If you try to squeeze it from all sides, it barely changes size. The bulk modulus is the number that tells you how hard it is to compress a material when you apply pressure evenly from every direction.
This is different from stretching or bending. Here, the force is uniform all around — like the pressure deep underwater, where water pushes on every surface of an object.
The Intuition: Pressure vs. Volume Change
Take a cube of material. If you increase the pressure on it (push harder from all sides), its volume decreases. The bulk modulus K is defined as:
Bulk modulus = fractional change in volumepressure applied
In symbols:
K=−ΔV/V0ΔP
Where:
- ΔP = change in pressure (force per area)
- ΔV = change in volume (final minus initial)
- V0 = original volume
The minus sign is there because when pressure increases (ΔP>0), volume decreases (ΔV<0), so the ratio comes out positive.
A large K means the material is hard to compress (like diamond or steel). A small K means it's easy to compress (like air or a sponge).
The Precise Statement
The bulk modulus is a material property. It tells you how much the volume of a substance changes when you apply a uniform pressure. The reciprocal of bulk modulus is called compressibility (β=1/K), which is often used for gases and liquids.
For a solid, K is usually very large — a few hundred gigapascals for metals. For water, K≈2.2×109 Pa (about 2.2 GPa). For air at room temperature, K≈1.4×105 Pa — much smaller, which is why you can easily squeeze a balloon.
K=−ΔV/V0ΔP
Where It Shows Up in Exams
You'll typically see three types of problems:
- Direct calculation: Given ΔP and ΔV/V0, find K (or vice versa).
- Comparing materials: Which has higher bulk modulus? (Steel > water > air)
- Applications: Why does a submarine's hull need to be strong? Because at depth, ΔP is huge, and a small K would mean dangerous compression.
For solids, the volume change is tiny — often given in scientific notation. For gases, the volume change can be large, so always check units carefully.
A Common Mistake
Students often forget the negative sign in the formula. Remember: when pressure goes up, volume goes down. The ratio ΔV/V0 is negative, so −ΔP/(ΔV/V0) gives a positive K. If you drop the minus sign, you'll get a negative bulk modulus — which is physically meaningless.
Real-World Example …
The key idea here is the definition of Pressure. Pressure is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed.
First, calculate the force exerted by the girl, which is her weight:
F=mg=50 kg×9.8 m/s2=490 N
Next, determine the area of the circular heel. The diameter is 1.0 cm, so the radius r=0.5 cm=0.005 m.
A=πr2=π(0.005 m)2=π(2.5×10−5) m2≈7.854×10−5 m2 …
The pressure exerted by an object is its weight divided by the area of contact. For the girl balancing on a single high heel, the pressure is calculated by dividing her weight by the circular area of the heel, resulting in approximately 6.24×106 Pa.
When an object rests on a surface, it exerts a force perpendicular to that surface due to its weight. The effect of this force is described by pressure, which is defined as the force distributed over a given area. Understanding pressure is crucial because it explains why a sharp knife cuts easily (small area, high pressure) or why snowshoes prevent sinking into snow (large area, low pressure).
In this problem, a girl's entire weight is concentrated on the tiny area of a single high heel. This small contact area, combined with a significant force (her weight), will result in a very high pressure on the floor.
Here's how we calculate it:
-
Identify the Force:
The force exerted by the heel on the floor is the weight of the girl. Weight (W) is calculated as mass (m) times the acceleration due to gravity (g). We'll use g=9.8 m/s2.
W=mg
W=(50 kg)×(9.8 m/s2)
W=490 N
-
Calculate the Area of Contact:
The heel is circular with a diameter of 1.0 cm. We need to convert this diameter to meters and then calculate the area (A) of the circle.
Diameter d=1.0 cm=0.01 m
Radius r=2d=20.01 m=0.005 m
The area of a circle is given by A=πr2.
A=π(0.005 m)2
A=π(2.5×10−5) m2
A≈7.85398×10−5 m2
Watch outA common mistake is forgetting to convert units to SI units (meters for length) before calculation. Using centimeters directly would lead to an incorrect area and thus incorrect pressure. …
F=mg=509.8=490N. A=pi(0.005)^2~=7.854e-5 m^2 (heel diamet …
Showing the 12 most recent of 37 on this concept.
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.A water drop when pressed between two parallel glass plates spreads in to a circle of diameter 10 cm. If the surface tension of water is 70×10−3 Nm−1 and the force required to separate the two glass plates is 2.2 N, then the volume of the drop is nearly (A) 5×10−4 m3 (B) 3.93×10−6 m3 (C) 62.8×10−6 m3 (D) 2×10−6 m3
›Reveal solutionSolution
The plates are held together by the reduced pressure inside the curved water film, ΔP=2T/d. Setting F=ΔP⋅πr2 gives the film thickness d, and then V=πr2d≈3.93×10−6 m3, option (B).
Concept & intuition
The squeezed drop forms a thin circular film of radius r and thickness d. Its edge is a concave (cylindrical) meniscus of radius of curvature d/2, so the pressure inside the film is lower than atmospheric by ΔP=2T/d. Atmospheric pressure therefore pushes the plates together; the force needed to separate them is this pressure drop acting over the film area πr2.
Watch outThe attractive force is not surface tension pulling along the rim's circumference — that would give a value far too small. It arises from the pressure jump across the curved liquid surface (Young–Laplace), which acts over the whole contact area.
- Pressure difference across the meniscus For the cylindrical edge, one radius of curvature is d/2 and the other is effectively infinite:
ΔP=T(d/21)=d2T.
- Force on the plates F=ΔP⋅πr2=d2Tπr2, …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.The percentage error in the measurement of length when a metal scale calibrated at 30∘C is used at −10∘C is (Coefficient of linear expansion of the metal =12×10−6∘C−1) (A) 0.024 (B) 0.036 (C) 0.048 (D) 0.012
›Reveal solutionSolution
The percentage error arises because the scale contracts when cooled, making each marked length shorter than its true value. The error equals the thermal strain: αΔT=12×10−6×40=0.00048, which as a percentage is 0.048%. The correct option is (C).
Concept & Intuition
A metal scale is calibrated at a reference temperature (here 30∘C). At that temperature, the markings (say 1 cm apart) are exactly correct. When the scale is used at a different temperature, the metal expands or contracts. If the scale is cooled, it shrinks: the physical distance between two markings becomes less than the number printed. So when you measure an object, you read a larger number than the true length — the error is positive. The fractional error in any length measurement is simply the fractional change in the scale’s length, i.e., αΔT. Multiply by 100 to get the percentage.
Step-by-step solution
- Identify the temperature change The scale was calibrated at T0=30∘C and used at T=−10∘C. The change in temperature is
ΔT=T−T0=−10−30=−40∘C.
The negative sign indicates cooling (contraction).
- Recall the linear expansion formula For a small temperature change, the change in length of a solid is
ΔL=αL0ΔT,
where α=12×10−6∘C−1 is the coefficient of linear expansion, and L0 is the original length at T0.
- Find the fractional change in the scale’s length The fractional change is
L0ΔL=αΔT=(12×10−6)×(−40)=−4.8×10−4.
The negative sign means the scale contracts: each interval (e.g., 1 cm mark) is now physically shorter by 0.048% of its original length.
- Interpret the percentage error in measurement …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.If the apparent weight of a cube of mass 400 g immersed in water is 3.36 N, then the density of the material of the cube (in kg m−3) is (Acceleration due to gravity = 10 ms−2) (A) 8350 (B) 9250 (C) 7500 (D) 6250
›Reveal solutionSolution
The apparent weight is the actual weight minus the buoyant force. Using the given apparent weight and the density of water, we find the cube's volume and then its density. The density of the material is 6250 kg/m³, which corresponds to option (D).
The key here is understanding what "apparent weight" means. When an object is immersed in a fluid, the fluid exerts an upward buoyant force on it. This buoyant force reduces the object's effective weight — what a scale would read if you weighed it underwater. That reading is the apparent weight.
The buoyant force is given by Archimedes' principle: it equals the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. For a fully immersed object, the displaced volume equals the object's own volume. So if we know the apparent weight and the actual weight, we can find the buoyant force, then the volume, and finally the density.
Let's work through it step by step.
-
Find the actual weight of the cube.
Mass m=400 g=0.4 kg.
Actual weight W=mg=0.4×10=4 N.
-
Find the buoyant force.
Apparent weight Wapp=W−Fb, where Fb is the buoyant force.
So Fb=W−Wapp=4−3.36=0.64 N.
-
Relate buoyant force to volume.
Fb=ρwater⋅V⋅g, where ρwater=1000 kg/m3 and g=10 m/s2.
So 0.64=1000×V×10 …
-
- TG EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-05-FN1 markMCQQ.If the fractional compression of water at the bottom of an ocean is 1.5×10−2, then the depth of the ocean is (Bulk modulus of water =2.2×109 Nm−2 and acceleration due to gravity =10 ms−2) (A) 3.3 km (B) 1.7 km (C) 1.1 km (D) 2.4 km
›Reveal solutionSolution
The fractional compression is related to the pressure increase via the bulk modulus; equating that pressure to the hydrostatic pressure P=ρgh gives the depth. The ocean depth is 3.3 km (option A).
The key idea here is that the bulk modulus B of a fluid tells you how much pressure is needed to produce a given fractional change in volume. For water at the bottom of the ocean, the pressure comes from the weight of the water column above — that’s hydrostatic pressure. So we link the two: the pressure that causes the compression is exactly P=ρgh, where h is the depth we want.
The fractional compression is given as VΔV=1.5×10−2. The bulk modulus is defined as
B=−ΔV/VΔP.
The negative sign means that an increase in pressure (+ΔP) causes a decrease in volume (−ΔV), so the ratio ΔV/V is negative. But here we are given the magnitude of the fractional compression, so we take ∣ΔV/V∣=1.5×10−2 and write
ΔP=B×VΔV.
Now let’s work through it step by step.
- Find the pressure increase at the bottom. Using the bulk modulus formula:
ΔP=B×VΔV=(2.2×109)×(1.5×10−2).
Compute:
ΔP=2.2×1.5×107=3.3×107 N/m2.
- Relate this pressure to the depth of the ocean. Hydrostatic pressure at depth h in a fluid of density ρ is P=ρgh. For water, ρ=1000 kg/m3 (standard value, though not explicitly given — it’s assumed). With g=10 m/s2, we have:
ρgh=3.3×107.
So …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-02-FN1 markMCQQ.If a brass sphere of radius 36 cm is submerged in a lake at a depth where the pressure is 107 Pa, then the change in the radius of the sphere is (Bulk modulus of brass = 60 GPa) (A) 4×10−2 cm (B) 2×10−3 cm (C) 4×10−3 cm (D) 2×10−2 cm
›Reveal solutionSolution
Volumetric strain under pressure is ΔV/V=P/K, and for a sphere ΔV/V=3Δr/r. This gives Δr=2×10−3 cm — option (B).
Concept
Immersion pressure P compresses the sphere. The bulk modulus relates pressure to volumetric strain, K=ΔV/VP. For a sphere V∝r3, so VΔV=3rΔr.
Solution
Volumetric strain:
VΔV=KP=60×109107=60001.
Radial strain: …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-03-AN1 markMCQQ.If a radioactive substance decays 10% in every 16 hours, then the percentage of the radioactive substance that remains after 2 days is (A) 82.2 (B) 18.8 (C) 27.1 (D) 72.9
›Reveal solutionSolution
The substance decays by 10% every 16 hours, meaning 90% remains after each 16-hour period. Two days = 48 hours = three 16-hour periods, so the remaining fraction is 0.93=0.729, or 72.9%. The correct option is (D).
The key concept here is exponential decay in discrete steps. When a substance loses a fixed percentage of its current amount each time interval, the amount remaining after n intervals is the initial amount multiplied by (1−decay rate)n. This is not a linear subtraction — you don’t just subtract 10% three times from 100%, because each 10% loss is taken from a smaller amount.
Let’s work through it step by step.
-
Understand the decay rate and time interval.
The substance decays 10% every 16 hours. That means after 16 hours, 90% of what was there at the start of that period remains. So the “retention factor” per 16-hour period is 0.9.
-
Convert the total time into the number of decay periods.
Two days = 48 hours. How many 16-hour periods fit into 48 hours?
1648=3
So there are three full decay periods.
-
Apply the decay repeatedly.
After the first 16 hours: remaining fraction = 0.9.
After the second 16 hours: remaining fraction = 0.9×0.9=0.92.
After the third 16 hours: remaining fraction = 0.93.
-
Calculate the numerical value.
0.93=0.9×0.9×0.9=0.81×0.9=0.729 …
-
- TG EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-04-29-FN1 markMCQQ.If the relative error in the determination of area of a body is 0.08, then the percentage error in the determination of its volume is (A) 6 (B) 12 (C) 16 (D) 4
›Reveal solutionSolution
The problem asks for the percentage error in volume given the relative error in area. Since area is proportional to the square of a linear dimension (L2) and volume is proportional to the cube of the same linear dimension (L3), we use error propagation rules. The relative error in volume is found to be 0.12, which corresponds to a percentage error of 12.
When we measure physical quantities, there's always some uncertainty or error. Error analysis helps us understand how these uncertainties propagate when we perform calculations involving the measured quantities.
The core idea here is how errors propagate when a quantity is raised to a power.
- Relative Error: For a quantity X, if ΔX is the absolute error in its measurement, then the relative error is defined as XΔX. It's a dimensionless quantity.
- Percentage Error: This is simply the relative error expressed as a percentage: XΔX×100%.
If a physical quantity Y depends on another quantity X such that Y=cXn, where c is a constant and n is a power, then the relative error in Y is related to the relative error in X by:
YΔY=nXΔX
This formula is derived by taking the natural logarithm of both sides and then differentiating.
For any given body, its area (A) is proportional to the square of its characteristic linear dimension (L), and its volume (V) is proportional to the cube of the same characteristic linear dimension. For example, for a sphere, A=4πR2 and V=34πR3. For a cube, A=6s2 and V=s3. In both cases, A∝L2 and V∝L3, where L is the radius R or side s. The constants of proportionality (4π, 34π, 6, 1) do not affect the relative errors.
Let's apply this concept to solve the problem.
- Relate Area to a Linear Dimension: Let L be a characteristic linear dimension of the body (e.g., its length, radius, or side). The area A of the body will be proportional to the square of this linear dimension:
A∝L2
We can write this as $A = k L^2$, where $k$ is a dimensionless constant that depends on the shape of the body.2. Apply Error Propagation for Area:
Using the error propagation formula for powers, the relative error in area is related to the relative error in the linear dimension:
AΔA=2LΔL
We are given that the relative error in the determination of the area is $0.08$.0.08=2LΔL
- Calculate Relative Error in Linear Dimension: From the above equation, we can find the relative error in the linear dimension L: …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-04-30-FN1 markMCQQ.If the maximum and minimum amplitudes of an amplitude modulated wave are 9 V and 3 V respectively, then the modulation index is (A) 21 (B) 3 (C) 2 (D) 31
›Reveal solutionSolution
The modulation index is found from the ratio of the difference to the sum of the maximum and minimum amplitudes. For Amax=9 V and Amin=3 V, the modulation index is 21.
In amplitude modulation, the carrier wave’s amplitude is varied in proportion to the message signal. The modulation index m tells us how deeply the carrier is modulated — it’s the ratio of the message amplitude to the carrier amplitude. When you look at the modulated waveform on an oscilloscope, the envelope shows a maximum amplitude Amax and a minimum amplitude Amin. These are directly related to the carrier amplitude Ac and the message amplitude Am:
- The peak of the envelope is Amax=Ac+Am
- The trough of the envelope is Amin=Ac−Am
From these two equations, you can solve for Ac and Am, and then m=Am/Ac. But there’s a cleaner way: add and subtract the two equations to get Ac and Am directly, then form the ratio.
-
Write the given values:
Amax=9 V, Amin=3 V.
-
The carrier amplitude is the average of the max and min:
Ac=2Amax+Amin=29+3=6 V
- The message amplitude is half the difference:
Am=2Amax−Amin=29−3=3 V
- The modulation index is: m=AcAm=63=21 …
- TG EAPCET 2024Set ap-2024-05-08-FN1 markMCQQ.A wooden cube is floating in a bucket of water with 43 of its volume immersed. If this bucket with the wooden block is now placed in a lift moving down with an acceleration of 2g, the fraction of volume of wooden cube immersed in water is (A) 43 (B) 83 (C) 23 (D) 21
›Reveal solutionSolution
The fraction of the cube’s volume immersed depends only on the relative densities of the cube and water, not on the effective gravity. Since the lift’s acceleration changes both the weight of the cube and the buoyant force equally, the immersed fraction remains 43.
The key idea here is that buoyancy in a fluid arises from the pressure difference, which itself depends on the effective gravity acting on the fluid. When the entire system (bucket + water + cube) accelerates together, the effective gravity changes for both the cube and the water in exactly the same way. So the ratio of densities — which determines the immersed fraction — stays unchanged.
Let’s work through it carefully.
-
Understand the floating condition in a stationary lift
When the lift is at rest (or moving with constant velocity), the cube is in equilibrium. The weight of the cube is balanced by the buoyant force.
Let the density of the cube be ρc, the density of water be ρw, the volume of the cube be V, and the immersed volume be Vim.
Weight: W=ρcVg
Buoyant force: Fb=ρwVimg
At equilibrium: ρcVg=ρwVimg
Cancelling g: ρcV=ρwVim
So the fraction immersed is VVim=ρwρc
Given that this fraction is 43, we have ρwρc=43.
-
What changes when the lift accelerates downward?
The lift moves down with acceleration a=2g. In the non-inertial frame of the lift, every object experiences a pseudo-force upward equal to ma. So the effective gravity in this frame is geff=g−a=g−2g=2g.
Both the cube and the water inside the bucket experience this same effective gravity.
-
Re-write the equilibrium condition in the accelerating lift
In the lift’s frame, the cube is again in equilibrium (it floats stationary relative to the water). …
-
- TG EAPCET 2024Set ap-2024-05-07-AN1 markMCQQ.If the length of a cylinder made with a material of Poisson’s ratio 0.4 is increased by 5%, then the decrease in its diameter is (A) 0.5% (B) 2.0% (C) 1.0% (D) 1.5%
›Reveal solutionSolution
When a material is stretched longitudinally, its lateral dimensions (like diameter) tend to contract. Poisson's ratio quantifies this phenomenon. Given a Poisson's ratio of 0.4 and a 5% increase in length, the diameter will decrease by 2.0%.
In materials science, when a material is subjected to a tensile force along one axis, it elongates in that direction. Simultaneously, it tends to contract in the perpendicular directions. This phenomenon is described by Poisson's ratio.
Concept and Intuition
Imagine pulling on a rubber band. As it gets longer, you'll notice it also gets thinner. This thinning is the lateral contraction. Poisson's ratio (ν) is a fundamental material property that quantifies this relationship. It's defined as the negative ratio of the lateral strain to the longitudinal strain.
- Longitudinal strain (ϵL) is the fractional change in length along the direction of the applied force. If the original length is L and the change in length is ΔL, then ϵL=LΔL.
- Lateral strain (ϵD) is the fractional change in the dimension perpendicular to the applied force (e.g., diameter or width). If the original diameter is D and the change in diameter is ΔD, then ϵD=DΔD.
Poisson's ratio is given by:
ν=−longitudinal strainlateral strain=−ΔL/LΔD/D
The negative sign is crucial because when a material is stretched (ΔL>0), its diameter typically decreases (ΔD<0). This makes the ratio ΔL/LΔD/D negative, so the negative sign in the formula ensures that Poisson's ratio ν is a positive value for most common materials.
Let's apply this concept to the given problem.
-
Identify the given values:
- Poisson's ratio, ν=0.4.
- Percentage increase in length = 5%. This means the longitudinal strain, LΔL, is 0.05.
-
Relate longitudinal and lateral strain using Poisson's ratio:
We use the formula for Poisson's ratio:
ν=−ΔL/LΔD/D
We want to find the percentage decrease in diameter, which is $100 \times \left|\frac{\Delta D}{D}\right|$. Let's rearrange the formula to solve for the lateral strain $\frac{\Delta D}{D}$:DΔD=−ν×LΔL
- Substitute the known values: …
- TG EAPCET 2024Set ap-2024-05-07-AN1 markMCQQ.A 31.4 kg girl wearing high heel shoes balances on a single heel. The heel is circular with a diameter of 2 cm. The pressure exerted by the heel on the horizontal floor is (Acceleration due to gravity =10ms−2) (A) 106Pa (B) 2.5×105Pa (C) 105Pa (D) 2.5×106Pa
›Reveal solutionSolution
Pressure is force per unit area. The girl's weight acts over the tiny circular area of the heel, producing a pressure of 106Pa.
Pressure measures how concentrated a force is. When the same force acts over a smaller area, the pressure increases dramatically — which is exactly why high heels can damage soft floors while flat shoes do not. Here, the entire weight of the girl is supported by a single small circular heel.
The pressure is defined as:
P=AF
where F is the perpendicular force and A is the area over which it acts.
Step-by-step solution
-
Find the force exerted by the heel
The heel must support the girl's entire weight. The gravitational force is:
F=mg=31.4×10=314N
-
Calculate the area of the circular heel
The heel has diameter d=2cm=0.02m, so radius r=0.01m.
The area of a circle is:
A=πr2=π×(0.01)2=π×10−4m2
-
Compute the pressure
Substituting into the pressure formula:
P=π×10−4314=π314×104
Using π≈3.14: …
-
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.A wooden cube of side 10 cm floats at the interface between water and oil with its lower surface 3 cm below the interface. If the density of oil is 0.9 g cm−3, the mass of the wooden cube is (A) 940 g (B) 900 g (C) 1000 g (D) 930 g
›Reveal solutionSolution
The cube floats with part in oil and part in water; the buoyant force equals its weight. Using the submerged volumes in each fluid and their densities gives the cube’s mass as 930 g, so option (D) is correct.
Concept & Intuition
When an object floats at the interface of two immiscible fluids, it experiences an upward buoyant force from both fluids. The total buoyant force is the sum of the weights of the displaced volumes of each fluid. For equilibrium, this total must equal the weight of the object. Here, the cube’s lower surface is 3 cm below the oil–water interface, meaning 3 cm of its height is in water and the remaining 7 cm is in oil. We can directly compute the mass from the displaced masses.
Step-by-step solution
- Determine the submerged volumes
The cube has side length 10 cm.
- Height in water: hw=3 cm → volume in water:
Vw=10×10×3=300 cm3
- Height in oil: ho=10−3=7 cm → volume in oil:
Vo=10×10×7=700 cm3
- Write the equilibrium condition Buoyant force = weight of the cube:
ρwgVw+ρogVo=mg
Cancel g:
m=ρwVw+ρoVo
- Insert densities Density of water: ρw=1.0 gcm−3 …
- Determine the submerged volumes
The cube has side length 10 cm.
🎓Unlock everything free for 14 days
- ✓Full step-by-step solutions
- ✓Concept-first explanations
- ✓Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- ✓PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.