Beginner pressure questions

The sharp end of a drawing pin has an area of 0.02 cm². How much pressure does it exert on a noticeboard when you push it with a force of 5.3 N? (Use p = F/A)

• 265 N/cm²

• 106 N/cm²

• 530 N/cm²

• 26.5 N/cm²

How much pressure is exerted on your finger in the same situation as in question 1? (Use p = F/A, F = 5.3 N)

• 5.76 N/cm²

• 0.53 N/cm²

• 10.6 N/cm²

• 1.06 N/cm²

An aeroplane’s passenger window measures 31 by 23 cm. The pressure pushing out the window is 8.2 N/cm². What force is the window being pushed out with? (Use p = F/A)

• 5,8 N

• 3,200 N

• 7,100 N

• 4,500 N

Polo mints are made by pressing mint-flavoured sugar powder in a press. If the area of a polo is 1.5 cm² and it needs to be pressed with a pressure of 52,000 N/cm², what force does the press need to exert? (Use p = F/A)

• 78,000 N

• 52,000 N

• 35,000 N

• 1,500 N

The strap on your school bag is in contact with 55 cm² of your shoulder and exerts a pressure of 1.03 N/cm² on you. What is the weight of your bag? (remember that weight is a type of force)

• 56.65 N

• 45.15 N

• 60.00 N

• 30.00 N

Your shoes have an area of 310 cm² each. If your mass is 57 kg, how much pressure do you exert on the floor when you stand normally on both feet?

• 0.92 N/cm²

• 1.84 N/cm²

• 0.18 N/cm²

• 5.70 N/cm²

Your Physics file measures 26 by 31 cm and has a mass of 470 g. How much pressure does it exert on a desk?

• 0.058 N/cm²

• 0.15 N/cm²

• 0.0058 N/cm²

• 0.80 N/cm²

For the next questions, you will be told the mass of an object. You will need to use the equation W = mg to convert mass (in kg) into weight (in N). Use g = 10 N/kg. You are skiing. The mass of you and all your clothing and equipment is 75 kg. You need to cross some powdery snow which you will sink into if the pressure you exert on it is bigger than 0.22 N/cm². What area do your skis need to have if you are not going to sink?

• 3410 cm²

• 1650 cm²

• 5000 cm²

• 2200 cm²

Mr Lang likes Mr Harrison's bed of nails demonstration so much, he wants to make his own for his Year 9 lessons. Mr Lang’s mass is 81 kg and he needs to keep the pressure on his skin below 95 N/cm² to avoid any unpleasantness. If each of the nails he is using has a point with an area of 0.03 cm², how many nails need to be in contact with his skin when he stands on the bed with both feet?

• 279

• 95

• 810

• 342