Pressure in solids and liquids – basic principles
How it works
Pressure is force per area: p = F/A. In solids, the pressure depends on how large the acting force is and how large the contact area is. In stationary liquids, pressure acts in all directions and increases with depth. The additional pressure caused by a column of liquid depends on the density of the liquid, the acceleration due to gravity and the depth. Pressure is measured in Pascal (Pa). Typical applications are, for example, snowshoes on snow or the increasing water pressure when diving.
For solids: p = F / A. For the additional hydrostatic pressure in a stationary liquid: p = ρ·g·h. Here ρ is the density, g the acceleration due to gravity and h the depth below the liquid surface.
An example
A suitcase exerts a weight force of 200 N on the floor and stands on an area of 0.5 m². How large is the pressure under the suitcase?
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50 Exercises
To the learning unit →Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: Physics. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.