Question

A girl stands on a box having$60cm$ in length, $40cm$ in breadth, and $20cm$ in height in three ways. In which of the following cases, the pressure exerted by the girl will be

• A. Maximum when length and breadth form the base
• B. Maximum when breadth and height form the base
• C. Maximum when width and length form the base
• D. The same in all the above three cases

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Maximum when breadth and height form the base

Step 1: Given

Length$=60cm$

Breadth $=40cm$

Height$=20cm$

Step 2: To find

The pressure exerted by the girl will be

Step 3: Solution

Pressure is defined as the ratio of force to cross section area

Pressure$\left(P\right)=\frac{Force}{Area}$

So, according to the formula pressure is maximum, when the area is minimum

The area formed by length and breadth$=60\times 40=2400c{m}^2$

The area formed by length and height $=60\times 20=1200c{m}^2$

The area formed by breadth and height $=40\times 20=800c{m}^2$

So the minimum area is when the base is formed by breadth and height, hence pressure will be maximum in this case..

Hence, the correct option is $B$.