Why is pressure a scalar quantity while thrust is a vector quantity?
Why is pressure a scalar quantity while thrust is a vector quantity?
Pressure is defined as force per unit area. No doubt it involves force and area but it is a different physical quantity and is not same as force or area.
P = F/A, P is pressure, F is force, A is area
The SI unit of pressure is ‘Pascal’ or ‘Pa’. 1 Pa = 1 N/m2. Thus, pressure is said to be 1 Pa when a force of 1 N acts on a surface of area 1 m2.
Pressure has no direction; they are compared in terms of their magnitude only. Consider mercury column used for measuring atmospheric pressure. The weight of mercury column acts downward, still the pressure exerted by it is equivalent to that of atmospheric pressure. In case of liquid, if you exert pressure at any point, it is transmitted equally in all directions, and not just in the direction of presure exerted. It forms the basis of Pascal's law and many hydraulic machines. Thus, you can conclude that pressure is scalar and has no direction.
Pressure is defined as force per unit area. No doubt it involves force and area but it is a different physical quantity and is not same as force or area.
P = F/A, P is pressure, F is force, A is area
The SI unit of pressure is ‘Pascal’ or ‘Pa’. 1 Pa = 1 N/m2. Thus, pressure is said to be 1 Pa when a force of 1 N acts on a surface of area 1 m2.
Pressure has no direction; they are compared in terms of their magnitude only. Consider mercury column used for measuring atmospheric pressure. The weight of mercury column acts downward, still the pressure exerted by it is equivalent to that of atmospheric pressure. In case of liquid, if you exert pressure at any point, it is transmitted equally in all directions, and not just in the direction of presure exerted. It forms the basis of Pascal's law and many hydraulic machines. Thus, you can conclude that pressure is scalar and has no direction.
