Question

A brick is kept in three different ways on a table as shown in the given figure. The pressure exerted by the brick on the table will be:

• A. maximum in position A
• B. maximum in position B
• C. equal in all the cases
• D. maximum in position C

Answer 1

The correct option is A maximum in position A

Here, since the same brick is placed in three different positions, the weight or the thrust exerted by the brick on the table will be the same in all the three positions. Whereas the surface area of the brick in contact with the table is the least in position A.
As we know that pressure is maximum for the minimum surface area in contact (if the force applied is kept constant). Therefore, we can say that the pressure exerted by the brick on the table will be maximum in position A.