Pressure Formula:
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The pressure formula (P = F/A) calculates the amount of force applied per unit area. It's a fundamental concept in physics and engineering that describes how force is distributed over a surface.
The calculator uses the pressure formula:
Where:
Explanation: Pressure increases with greater force or smaller contact area. The standard unit of pressure is the Pascal (1 Pa = 1 N/m²).
Details: Pressure calculations are essential in many fields including fluid mechanics, structural engineering, aerodynamics, and material science. It helps determine stress distribution, buoyancy, and hydraulic system performance.
Tips: Enter force in Newtons and area in square meters. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the pressure in Pascals.
Q1: What's the difference between pressure and force?
A: Force is the total push or pull, while pressure is the force per unit area. The same force can create different pressures depending on contact area.
Q2: What are common pressure units?
A: Pascals (Pa) are standard, but other units include atmospheres (atm), mmHg (torr), psi (pounds per square inch), and bar.
Q3: How does area affect pressure?
A: For a given force, pressure is inversely proportional to area. Smaller contact area means higher pressure (e.g., knife edges, high heels).
Q4: What is atmospheric pressure at sea level?
A: Approximately 101,325 Pa or 1 atm. This decreases with altitude.
Q5: How is pressure used in hydraulics?
A: Hydraulic systems use incompressible fluids to transmit pressure equally in all directions, allowing small forces to create large pressures.