FORCES AND PRESSURE

Is

defined as force acting per unit area

F
P
A
Unit for pressure is N m-2 or pascal (Pa)

1) An elephant weighing 30000 N . The area of one

foot in contact with the ground is 15000
cm2.Calculate the pressure it exerts on the floor.

P= F
A
= 30000 N
15000X4x10-4 m2

=5000 N m-2

2)The wind pressure on the wall is 200 Pa.If the wall

has an area of 8m2,what is the force on it?

Pressure= Force
Area
200 Pa = Force
8m2
Force =200 Pa x 8 m2
=1600 N

Why the duck able move smoothly without its

feet being stuck in the mud, while the hen is
unable to do so?Show your calculation and
explain this situation based on pressure
concept.

- the webbed feet of duck provide a large

surface area of contact between the feet and
muddy ground.So the,duck exerts a smaller
pressure on the mud compared to the
pressure exerted by the hen.Therefore,the
duck is able to move smoothly on the muddy
ground while the hen is unable to do so.

Which shoe will cause the most pain

when tread on our foot?

Shoe A has the largest area of

contact with our foot.

Shoe D has the smallest area of

contact with our foot

Therefore,shoe D will exert the most pressure on

our foot.So our foot feels most painful if trod by
shoe D

Force ,pressure

Contact area ,pressure

Force

Contact area ,pressure

,pressure

A student pressing a thumbtack into a piece of wood with

a force of 20 N. The surface area of the head of the
thumbtack is 1 cm2 and the cross-sectional area of the tip
of the thumbtack is 0.01 cm2.
Calculate:
(a) the pressure exerted by the students thumb on the
head of the thumbtack
(b) the pressure of the tip of the thumbtack on the wood.
(c)What conclusion can be drawn from your answers to (a)
and (b)