Question

Calculate the average pressure exerted on the palm of a shot-putter’s hand by the shot if the area of contact is 50.0 cm² and he exerts a force of 800 N on it. Express the pressure in N/m² and compare it with the 1.00×10⁶ Pa pressures sometimes encountered in the skeletal system.

Answer 1

The average pressure exerted on the shot-putter's hand is 160,000 N/m², which is lower than the pressures encountered in the skeletal system.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the average pressure exerted on the palm of a shot-putter's hand, we can use the formula:

Pressure = Force / Area

Given that the force exerted is 800 N and the area of contact is 50.0 cm², we can substitute these values into the formula:

Pressure = 800 N / 50.0 cm² = 16 N/cm²

To convert this to N/m², we need to multiply by 10,000 since 1 cm² = 10,000 mm²:

Pressure in N/m² = (16 N/cm²) * (10,000 mm²/ 1 cm²) = 160,000 N/m²

Now, let's compare this with the 1.00 × 10⁶ Pa pressures encountered in the skeletal system. 1 Pascal (Pa) is equal to 1 N/m², so 1.00 × 10⁶ Pa is equivalent to 1.00 × 10⁶ N/m². The pressure on the shot-putter's hand (160,000 N/m²) is lower than the pressures encountered in the skeletal system (1.00 × 10⁶ N/m²).