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What is pressure?
Why would a lady in high heels standing on your foot
hurt more than an elephant standing on your foot?

The elephant has a larger weight than the lady, but the
contact area between its feet and the floor is far larger.

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High pressure and low pressure

A force spread over a larger area produces a lower pressure.

Which type of footwear would be better for standing on a

muddy field – the flat-soled shoes or high-heeled boots?

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High pressure and low pressure

The shoes have flat soles, In contrast, the soles of the

so they spread the person’s
weight over a large surface
area.
These boots exert a low
pressure on the ground.
high-heeled boots have a
smaller surface area and so
exert a higher pressure.
These shoes are likely to
sink into soft ground.

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Calculating pressure
Pressure is the force per unit area and is calculated using
this formula:

f
force
pressure =
area p a
This can also be represented in a formula triangle.
Pressure is measured in newtons per square metre (N/m2),
which are also called pascals (Pa).
Pressure can also be measured in newtons per square
centimetre (N/cm2).

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Pressure calculation
How much pressure is the woman
exerting on the floor?

Weight of woman = 500 N

Area of contact with floor = 20 cm2

Force
Pressure =
Area

= 500
20
= 25 N/cm2

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Using low pressure
A force spread over a large area produces low pressure.
This is used in skis and snowboards.

The large surface area

of the board means the
snowboarder exerts
very little pressure on
the snow.

This means he slides

over the top of the
snow and does not
sink into it.

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Using high pressure
A force concentrated on a small area produces high
pressure. This is used in things like pins and sharp knives.
The force applied to the tiny surface area of the end of a
pin creates a high enough pressure to puncture even wood.

The narrow blade of a knife means that it exerts a high

pressure, making it easier to cut fruit and vegetables.

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Investigating pressure

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Pressure – highest to lowest

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