Questions: Pressure: Force Divided by Area

Question 1

A 600 N person stands on one foot with an area of 0.02 m². What pressure do they exert on the ground?

• A. 12 Pa
• B. 300 Pa
• C. 30,000 Pa
• D. 600 Pa

Answer: (C)

P = F/A = 600 N / 0.02 m² = 30,000 Pa.

Question 2

A sharp knife cuts better than a dull one because it applies the same force over a smaller area, creating higher pressure.

• T. True
• F. False

Answer: True

The sharp blade has a much smaller contact area than the dull blade. Since P = F/A, a smaller area means higher pressure, which makes cutting easier.

Question 3

Why do snowshoes keep you from sinking into deep snow?

Model answer: Snowshoes spread your weight over a much larger area, reducing the pressure on the snow. The lower pressure means the snow can support you without collapsing.

P = F/A. Your weight (force) stays the same, but the large area of the snowshoe decreases the pressure enough that the snow's surface can bear it.