Question

An asian elephant has a weight of 52,900 newtons. this enormous weight is balanced on four feet. in a circus act, these elephants often balance on one foot. the average surface area of a foot pad is 2,920 cm2. what pressure is experienced at the food pad if an elephant balances all its weight on one foot?

Answer 1

Answer: The pressure experienced at the food pad is
`18.12N/cm^2`

Step-by-step explanation:

Pressure is defined as the amount of force exerted per unit area of surface.

Mathematically,

`\text{Pressure}=\frac{\text{Force}}{\text{Area}}`

We are given:

Pressure experienced at the food pad = ?

Force exerted / Weight of the box = 52,900 N

Area of the box =
`2,920cm^2`

Putting values in above equation, we get:

`\text{Pressure experienced at the food pad}=(52900N)/(2920cm^2)\\\\\text{Pressure experienced at the food pad}=18.12N/cm^2`

Hence, the pressure experienced at the food pad is
`18.12N/cm^2`

Answer 2

Pressure is defined as the force per unit area. In this case, the given force is the weight of the elephant equivalent to 52,900 newtons while the area is the foot pad area equal to 2920 cm2. Dividing 52,900 N with 2920 cm2 or 2.92 m2, the total pressure on the four feet is 18116.44 Pa.