Pressure

Pressure is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area. It is a measure of how much force is acting on a certain area.

Formula for Pressure

The formula for pressure is:

Pressure (P) = Force (F) / Area (A)

Where:

• Pressure (P) is measured in pascals (Pa) or newtons per square meter (N/m²).
• Force (F) is the perpendicular force applied to the surface, measured in newtons (N).
• Area (A) is the surface area over which the force is applied, measured in square meters (m²).

Units of Pressure

Common units of pressure include:

• Pascal (Pa) - The SI unit of pressure, equal to one newton per square meter.
• Atmosphere (atm) - Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is approximately 101,325 Pa.
• Pound per square inch (psi) - Commonly used in the United States for pressure measurements.

Applications of Pressure

Pressure is encountered in various everyday situations, such as:

• Hydraulics: The study of fluids in motion and at rest, often used in hydraulic machines and systems.
• Atmospheric pressure: The pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere, affecting weather and other natural phenomena.
• Pressure in solids: Important in engineering and materials science, for example, in determining the strength of materials under different loads.