Question

Anoop places a cuboid of dimensions $12cm\times 8cm\times 6cm$ with different faces touching a table. Which face, when touching the table, will experience the greatest pressure?

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D. All faces experience the same pressure.

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Pressure can be defined as the perpendicular force applied over an area of one metre squared. Force is distributed over this area.

It can be expressed as:
$Pressure=\frac{Force}{Area}$

So if the area of application of force is large and the force gets distributed across that area then we say that the pressure acting on it is less when compared to the same force acting on a smaller area.

Therefore, the figure with the least area touching the table will have the largest pressure.

Here, the constant force is the weight which is $mg$ but the area of each face is different.
Option A has an area of $8\times 12=96c{m}^2$,
option B has $12\times 6=72c{m}^2$ and
option C has $8\times 6=48c{m}^2$.
So the face having least area is given in option C. Therefore, option C is the answer.