Question

A person exerts 80,000 Pa of pressure on the ground while standing on both feet. What would happen to the pressure if the person then stood on only foot, decreasing the area in contact with the floor to half the original?

1. The person would exert twice as much pressure on the floor, 160,000 Pa. As the contact area between the surface and object decreases, the pressure increases.
2. The person would exert only slightly more than 80,000 Pa of pressure on the floor. The contact area between the surface and object has a very small effect on the pressure.
3. The person would exert the same amount of pressure on the floor, 80,000 Pa. Pressure only depends on the weight of the object, which didn’t change.
4. The person would exert half the amount of pressure on the floor, 40,000 Pa. As the contact area between the surface and object decreases, the pressure decreases.

Answer 1

1. The person would exert twice as much pressure on the floor, 160,000 Pa. As the contact area between the surface and object decreases, the pressure increases.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pressure is obtained when the force is divided by the area on which the force is acting

`P=(F)/(A)`

While using two feet

`80000=(F)/(A)`

While using one feet the area gets halved

`P_2=(F)/((A)/(2))\\\Rightarrow \\\Rightarrow P_2=2* (F)/(A)\\\Rightarrow P_2=2* 80000\\\Rightarrow P_2=160000\ Pa`

So,

The person would exert twice as much pressure on the floor, 160,000 Pa. As the contact area between the surface and object decreases, the pressure increases.