Force and pressure
Contact and non-contact forces, mass and weight, gravitational fields, density and pressure.
Learning goals
- Distinguish contact forces from non-contact forces
- State that mass measures the amount of matter in a body
- Describe a gravitational field as a region where a mass experiences gravitational force
- Define gravitational field strength as gravitational force per unit mass
- Apply weight = mass × gravitational field strength
- Distinguish mass from weight
- Apply density = mass ÷ volume
- Define pressure as force per unit area
- Apply pressure = force ÷ area
G2 Science (Physics) · Topic 3
Read the complete lesson from top to bottom first. Pause for its examples and independent questions, then use a short topic check to decide what to practise again.
Before you begin
Build the idea in order
- Contact and non-contact forces
- Mass, weight and fields
- Density
- Pressure
Lessons
Force and pressure
Contact and non-contact forces, mass and weight, gravitational fields, density and pressure.
Check your understanding
Force and pressure topic check
Check the required topic capabilities and get focused practice for ideas that need another look.
G2 Science Structured Practice — Measurement, Force and Pressure
Marked practice for G2 Science measurement and pressure: unit and area conversions, reading scales, choosing instruments, density and contact pressure.
What to remember
- Contact forces require touching; field forces act at a distance.
- Mass is in kilograms; weight is a force and W = mg.
- Gravitational field strength is force per unit mass.
- Density is mass divided by volume using matching units.
- Pressure is force divided by area.
Topic and syllabus information
Force and pressure is Topic 3 in K223 / K224 Physics component · 2027.
The lesson stays within G2 depth and includes the explanations, examples and practice needed for this topic.
Reviewed 9 Aug 2026
Continue with the next resource in this course.
Course and syllabus information
- Course
- SEC G2 Science Physics component
- Edition
- SEC G2 Science Physics component 2027