Pressure Formula:
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Definition: Pressure is defined as the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area.
Purpose: This calculator helps students understand the relationship between force, area, and pressure in physics.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: Pressure increases with greater force or smaller contact area.
Details: Understanding pressure is crucial for designing structures, hydraulic systems, and understanding everyday phenomena.
Tips: Enter the force in Newtons and area in square meters. All values must be > 0.
Q1: What is the SI unit of pressure?
A: The SI unit of pressure is Pascal (Pa), which equals 1 Newton per square meter.
Q2: How does area affect pressure?
A: Pressure is inversely proportional to area - smaller contact area means greater pressure for the same force.
Q3: What are some real-life examples?
A: Sharp knives cut better (small area), snowshoes prevent sinking (large area), hydraulic brakes transmit force through fluid pressure.
Q4: How is this different from force?
A: Force is the total push or pull, while pressure is how concentrated that force is over an area.
Q5: What if my area is in cm²?
A: Convert to m² first (1 m² = 10,000 cm²) for correct Pascal calculation.