Pressure being inversely proportional to area means that the same force on a smaller area gives:
AA lower pressure
BThe same pressure
CNo pressure at all
DA higher pressure
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. A higher pressure
1. Pressure is defined as the force exerted on a given area.
2. It is proportional to force and inversely proportional to area.
3. Inverse proportionality means shrinking the area raises the pressure.
4. That is why a drawing pin pierces a board while a flat hand does not.
5. The force involved has not changed at all in that comparison.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 9 'Gases', sections 9.1-9.6_
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