Final answer:
To find the force exerted by the left side of the heart, convert the pressure to Pascals and the area to square meters, then multiply the two using the formula F = P × A.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the force exerted by the left side of the heart that creates a pressure of 120 mm Hg over an effective area of 15.0 cm², you can use the formula for pressure which is P = F/A, where P is pressure, F is force, and A is the area.
First, you need to convert the pressure from mm Hg to Pascals (Pa) because the standard SI unit for pressure is Pascal. 1 mm Hg is approximately 133.322 Pa, so 120 mm Hg equates to 120 × 133.322 Pa. Then, solve the equation for F (force).
F = P × A
Given that A = 15.0 cm², you must convert this to m² for consistency in SI units (1 cm² = 1e-4 m²). Then, multiply the converted pressure by the converted area to obtain the force in Newtons (N).
Remember to handle the units carefully when performing the calculation to ensure an accurate result.