Question

Avinash places a cuboid block of dimensions 15 cm x 8 cm x 6 cm in 3 different ways with different faces touching the table. In which of the following cases will the pressure exerted by the block on the table be maximum?

• A. Case 2
• B. Case 3
• C. Case 1
• D. Same pressure will be exerted in all the cases.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Case 3

Pressure = $\frac{Force}{Area}$
When force acting is constant, pressure is inversely proportional to area. Here, the constant force is the weight of the block. But, the base area in each case is different.
In case 1, base area = 15 x 8 = 120 <!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> $c{m}^2$
In case 2, base area = 15 x 6 = 90 $c{m}^2$
In case 3, base area = 8 x 6 = 48 $c{m}^2$
Thus, base area is minimum in case 3.
So, in case 3 maximum pressure will be exerted on the table.