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.
Similar Questions
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Important Questions from Pressure
Deep-sea diving vessels have to withstand pressure from the crushing effect of seawater acting-
The pressure increases with-
- At high altitudes, the air pressure is _______ than at sea level.
The pressure exerted by man on the earth is minimum when he __________.
The atmospheric pressure at sea level is ________, and is taken as the normal atmospheric pressure.
