Home
Back
Pressure Formula:
| From: | To: |
Pressure is defined as the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area. It is a fundamental concept in physics and engineering, measured in Pascals (Pa) in the SI system.
The calculator uses the pressure formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula shows that pressure is directly proportional to force and inversely proportional to area. This means for the same force, a smaller area results in higher pressure.
Details: Pressure calculations are essential in various fields including mechanical engineering, fluid dynamics, structural design, and atmospheric science. Understanding pressure helps in designing safe structures, hydraulic systems, and studying weather patterns.
Tips: Enter force in Newtons and area in square meters. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero. The calculator will compute the pressure in Pascals.
Q1: What is the difference between pressure and force?
A: Force is a push or pull on an object, while pressure is the force distributed over an area. The same force can create different pressures depending on the contact area.
Q2: What are common units for pressure?
A: Pascals (Pa) are the SI unit, but other common units include atmospheres (atm), bars, pounds per square inch (psi), and millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
Q3: How does area affect pressure?
A: For a constant force, pressure increases as area decreases. This is why sharp knives cut better and why snowshoes prevent sinking in snow.
Q4: What is atmospheric pressure?
A: Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere above a point. Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is approximately 101,325 Pa.
Q5: Can pressure be negative?
A: In most physical contexts, pressure is positive. However, gauge pressure can be negative relative to atmospheric pressure, and negative absolute pressure is not physically possible.