Question

A force of 400 N acts on a surface of area 25 square cm. Calculate thrust and pressure. Calculate the changed pressure if the force now is made to 600 N.

Answer 1

Answer/Solution:

Given Values:

Force, F = 400 N;
Surface area, A = 25 cm²; = 25 X 10^-4 m^​2
Thrust = ?
Pressure = ?

Thrust = 400 N (The force acting on an object perpendicular to the surface is called thrust.)

$$\begin{gathered} Pressure=\frac{Thrust}{Area} \\ P=\frac{400}{25X{10}^{-4}} \\ \mathit{P}\mathbf{}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{}\mathbf{16}\mathbf{}\mathit{X}\mathbf{}{\mathbf{10}}^{\mathbf{4}}\mathbf{}\mathit{N}\mathbf{/}{\mathit{m}}^{\mathbf{2}} \end{gathered}$$

IInd Case when force 600 N acting on the same surface then the pressure:

$$\begin{gathered} Pressure=\frac{Thrust}{Area} \\ P\hspace{0.17em}=\frac{600}{25X{10}^{-4}} \\ \mathit{P}\mathbf{\hspace{0.17em}}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{}\mathbf{24}\mathbf{}\mathbf{}\mathit{X}\mathbf{}{\mathbf{10}}^{\mathbf{4}\mathbf{}}\mathit{N}\mathbf{/}{\mathit{m}}^{\mathbf{2}} \end{gathered}$$