alleryStart learning →Pressure is defined from a force and the surface on which that force acts. Which definition is correct?
AForce times the area it acts over
BForce divided by the perpendicular area
CArea divided by the force applied to it
DForce divided by the distance moved
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Force divided by the perpendicular area
1. Pressure is the force divided by the area perpendicular to that force, over which the force is applied.
2. The word perpendicular matters, because only the area facing the force counts.
3. Multiplying force by area would grow without limit as the surface grew, which is the opposite of how pressure behaves.
4. Force divided by distance moved is not pressure at all, since force times distance is work.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 11 "Fluid Statics", section 11.3 Pressure_
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