Final answer:
A large African elephant exerts a force on the ground equivalent to its weight, distributed over its four feet with a total area of 250 in², resulting in a pressure of approximately 14 lb/in².
Step-by-step explanation:
The force that an African elephant pushes to the ground is directly related to its weight and the area of its feet that make contact with the ground. A large African elephant can weigh 7 tons, which is distributed over its four feet. Each foot has a diameter of about 1.5 ft, resulting in a footprint area of around 250 in². To calculate the pressure exerted by each foot, we use the formula: Pressure = Force / Area. Since the weight of the elephant is the force due to gravity acting on its mass, it creates a significant force on the ground. However, due to the relatively large area of the elephant's feet, the pressure per elephant foot is about 14 lb/in².
Comparatively, a figure skater, despite having a much lower force due to their lower weight, can exert a higher pressure on the ice because of the small surface area of the skate blades. It is the concept of pressure (force per unit area) that determines the impact on the surface rather than just the force alone.