Update: This page’s content is moving to a new address in the upcoming months.
The information on this page is ✔ fact-checked.
The pressure equation states that pressure (P) is calculated as the ratio of force (F) to the surface area (A). Mathematically, the formula for pressure is expressed as P = F/A. This equation allows us to calculate the pressure acting on an object based on the amount of force applied and the surface area over which it is distributed.
Practice problems
Problem #1
Calculate the pressure acting on a disc with a surface area of 5 m2 when a force of 50 N is exerted on it.
Solution
Given data:
- Pressure acting on a disc, P = ?
- Surface area of a disc, A = 5 m2
- Force exerted on a disc, F = 50 N
Applying the formula:
- P = F/A
- P = 50/5
- P = 10 N/m2
Therefore, the pressure acting on a disc is 10 N/m2.
Problem #2
If a 10 N force is exerted on a box with a surface area of 2 m2, what is the value of the pressure acting on the box?
Solution
Given data:
- Force exerted on a box, F = 10 N
- Surface area of a box, A = 2 m2
- Pressure acting on a box, P = ?
Applying the formula:
- P = F/A
- P = 10/2
- P = 5 N/m2
Therefore, the pressure acting on a box is 5 N/m2.
Problem #3
A boy exerts a force of 28 N on a flat plate with a surface area of 4 m2. Calculate the pressure acting on the flat plate.
Solution
Given data:
- Force exerted on the flat plate, F = 28 N
- Surface area of the flat plate, A = 4 m2
- Pressure acting on the flat plate, P = ?
Applying the formula:
- P = F/A
- P = 28/4
- P = 7 N/m2
Therefore, the pressure acting on the flat plate is 7 N/m2.
Problem #4
A drummer exerts a force of 18 N on a drum head with a drumstick. If the surface area of the drum head is 3 m2, calculate the pressure acting on the drum head.
Solution
Given data:
- Force exerted on a drum head, F = 18 N
- Surface area of a drum head, A = 3 m2
- Pressure acting on a drum head, P = ?
Applying the formula:
- P = F/A
- P = 18/3
- P = 6 N/m2
Therefore, the pressure acting on a drum head is 6 N/m2.
📝 Your feedback matters. Visit our contact page.
Related
- Free fall equation
- Air resistance formula
- Terminal velocity equation
- Gravity equation
- Inertia formula
- Acceleration formula
- Momentum equation
- Mass formula
- Velocity formula
- Pressure equation
- Kinematic equations
- Friction equation
External links
- Pressure – Wikipedia
- 11.3: Pressure – Physics LibreTexts
- What is pressure? (article) | Fluids – Khan Academy
- Pressure Definition, Formula & Units – Study.com
- 14.1 Fluids, Density, and Pressure – UCF Pressbooks
- Lesson Explainer: Relating Force, Pressure, and Area – Nagwa
- The pressure equation – Pressure – OCR Gateway – BBC
- Pressure Calculator – Omni Calculator
- Pressure: Meaning, Calculation & Formula – Force – Vaia
- Pressure is Force per Unit Area by Ron Kurtus – School for Champions
- How to Calculate Force Based on Pressure – Dummies
- Pressure Calculator & Formula – Calculator Academy
- Force is determined by pressure and area – IOP Spark
Deep
Learnool.com was founded by Deep Rana, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and a blogger by passion. He has a good conceptual knowledge on different educational topics and he provides the same on this website. He loves to learn something new everyday and believes that the best utilization of free time is developing a new skill.
