Worked Example: Pressure, Force, and Area
This worked example demonstrates the relationship between pressure, force, and area, showing how the concentration of force over a surface dictates the resulting pressure.
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This worked example demonstrates the relationship between pressure, force, and area, showing how the concentration of force over a surface dictates the resulting pressure.
A machine rests on a concrete foundation. The machine exerts a total downward force of 50,000 N. The contact area between the machine's base and the foundation is 2.5 square meters. Calculate the average pressure exerted on the foundation.
Pressure () is defined as the force () applied perpendicularly to the surface divided by the area () over which the force is distributed:
Pressure analysis is fundamental to ensuring that materials do not fail. In this example, the 20 kPa pressure must be compared against the allowable bearing capacity of the concrete foundation. If the foundation cannot support 20 kPa, engineers must either increase the base area (A) or select a stronger material.
Substitute the given values into the equation: Since 1 Pascal (Pa) is defined as :