Question

The mass of a rectangular block is $500g$. It has a base of length $10cm$ and breadth $5cm$. Calculate in SI units, the average pressure exerted by the block on its base. $\left(g=10m{s}^{-2}\right)$

Answer 1

Step 1: Given data

$$\begin{gathered} Mass,m=500g=0.5kg(inSIunits) \\ Length,l=10cm=0.1m(inSIunits) \\ Breadth,b=5cm=0.05m(inSIunits) \\ g=10m{s}^{-2} \end{gathered}$$

Step 2: Calculating the thrust

$$\begin{gathered} Thrust,F=m\times g \\ F=0.5kg\times 10m{s}^{-2} \\ =5N \end{gathered}$$

Step 3: Calculating the area

$$\begin{gathered} Area,A=l\times b \\ A=0.1m\times 0.05m \\ =0.005m^2 \end{gathered}$$

Step 4: Calculating the pressure

$$\begin{gathered} Pressure=\frac{Thrust}{Area} \\ P=\frac{F}{A} \\ =\frac{5N}{0.005m^2} \\ =1000N{m}^{-2}=1000Pa \end{gathered}$$