Final answer:
The amount of pressure exerted on an object is determined by dividing the force applied by the area over which this force is distributed, using the equation P = F / A.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the amount of pressure exerted on an object, you must divide the force applied to the object by the area over which the force is distributed. In physics, pressure (P) is calculated by the equation P = F / A, where F is the force in newtons and A is the area in square meters. For instance, the pressure exerted by a chair on the floor is calculated by taking the force (which is the weight of the chair, including gravity) and dividing it by the contact area between the chair's legs and the floor.
If dealing with fluids, pressure can be determined using the weight of the fluid (mg), which is the mass times the acceleration due to gravity, and dividing it by the area A over which the weight is distributed. This is particularly relevant when calculating the pressure at the bottom of a container holding a liquid or a gas, where P = mg / A.