Final answer:
Higher pressure is exerted when a force is applied over a smaller area; this is due to the definition of pressure as force per unit area, with examples including a needle puncturing the skin and increased water pressure when a hose opening is narrowed.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a force is spread out over a smaller area, it exerts higher pressure. Pressure is calculated as the force applied per unit area, so the same force over a smaller area results in greater pressure. This is similar to how a sharp needle can easily puncture the skin with a small force, whereas a finger applying the same force cannot. This principle applies to various scenarios, such as water flowing from a hose becoming more forceful when the opening is narrowed, or gas molecules exerting pressure by colliding with surfaces. In each case, reducing the area or increasing the number of collisions or their velocity (as with higher temperatures) results in higher pressure.