Question

Explain the difference in pressure between a small and a large point

Answer 1

If the force applied is the same, the small point will exert a greater pressure. Assumption:

• both forces are applied perpendicularly and evenly, and
• the entirety of the larger point is in contact with the object that it is acting on.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pressure is the amount of force exerted per unit area. In other words, if a normal force of size
`N` is exerted over an area of
`A`, it will exert a pressure of

`\displaystyle P = (N)/(A)`.

The contact area,
`A`, is in the denominator. If the numerator stays the same and the value of the denominator increases, the value of the quotient will become smaller. With a similar logic, if the value of the numerator (normal force) stays the same, raising the size of the force (the denominator) will reduce the pressure on the object.

This relationship is widely applied in real life. For example, the moon soil is known to be soft; it is likely to get deshaped easily under pressure. Landers with pointy legs might sink into the soil and topple. To minimize that risk, each landing leg of the Apollo Lunar Modules is equipped with a wide plate, The plate maximizes the contact area and minimize the pressure on the lunar surface.