What is the formula for calculating pressure?

What is the formula for calculating pressure?

• A. P = F + A
• B. P = F / V
• C. P = F / A
• D. P = A / F

Answer: (C)

Pressure is defined as the amount of force applied per unit area. Because it measures how concentrated a force is on a surface, you divide the force by the area over which it acts. The best expression is P = F / A, with units of pascals (Pa) in SI, where 1 Pa equals 1 N/m^2. For example, a 10 N force spread over 2 m^2 gives 10 / 2 = 5 Pa. Expressions like F + A mix incompatible quantities, and P / V or A / F would give wrong units for pressure, so they don’t describe how pressure works.

Pressure is defined as the amount of force applied per unit area. Because it measures how concentrated a force is on a surface, you divide the force by the area over which it acts. The best expression is P = F / A, with units of pascals (Pa) in SI, where 1 Pa equals 1 N/m^2. For example, a 10 N force spread over 2 m^2 gives 10 / 2 = 5 Pa. Expressions like F + A mix incompatible quantities, and P / V or A / F would give wrong units for pressure, so they don’t describe how pressure works.