If the surface area increases for the same thrust (force), then the pressure on the surface ______.
decreases
Pressure is defined as thrust (force acting perpendicular to a surface) divided by the area on which it acts: \(P = \dfrac{F}{A}\).
When the force F is kept constant and the area A is increased, the same force gets spread over a larger surface, so the pressure P becomes smaller. Pressure is inversely proportional to area for a fixed force.
This is why a person wearing flat, broad snowshoes sinks less in snow than one in pointed heels: the larger area lowers the pressure.
It does not remain the same or become zero, because the ratio F/A genuinely changes as A grows; and it certainly does not increase, since a larger denominator gives a smaller value.
Hence, increasing the surface area for the same thrust causes the pressure to decrease.
Important Questions from Pressure
A person stands on his two feet over a surface and experiences a pressure P. Now the person stands on only one foot in this case he would experience a pressure of magnitude
The pressure inside the cabin of the aircraft flying at an altitude is
A. The same as that outside.
B. Less than that outside.
C. More than that outside.
D. Normal atmospheric pressure at sea level.What is the effect of pressure of a human body on sand ?
- How many Pascals are equivalent to $0.25$ bar?
A camel can walk/run in deserts very easily as compared to horse, donkey etc, because is-
