Question

Pressure is a scalar quantity because

• A. it is the ratio of the magnitude of the force to area.
• B. it does not depend on the size of the area chosen
• C. it is the ratio of force to area and both force and area are vectors.
• D. it is the ratio of the component of the force normal to the area.

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (D)

it is the ratio of the component of the force normal to the area.

Formula Used: $P=\frac{F_{\perp }}{A}$

When we calculate pressure, only the component of force that is normal to the surface is taken. It is defined as the ratio of magnitude of force normal to the magnitude of the area of the surface.

Hence, $P=\frac{F_{\perp }}{A}$

So the pressure is a scalar quantity as it is a ratio of two scalars.

And it is independent on the size of the area chosen.

Final Answer: (c),(d)