Force and pressure worksheet
Solve 12 original Class 8 force and pressure questions, from pascal calculations to comparing contact areas and designing a stable stand.
Worked example · One load, two contact areas
A 60 N crate rests on one of two faces. Which face puts more pressure on the floor?
| Face | Contact area | Pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Wide face | 0.12 m² | 60 ÷ 0.12 = 500 Pa |
| Narrow face | 0.04 m² | 60 ÷ 0.04 = 1,500 Pa |
Use pressure = force ÷ contact area. The weight stays at 60 N whichever face touches the floor.
The smaller face gives three times the pressure. Turning the crate changes the contact area.
Print & practise
A4 paper · 12 questions
Practice questions
Show your working for calculations. Give force in newtons, area in square metres, and pressure in pascals.
Practice
- A force of 18 N acts evenly on 3 m². Calculate the pressure.
- A board experiences 14 Pa of pressure over 2 m². Find the force.
- A force of 90 N produces 300 Pa. What area does it act over?
- A girl pushes a trolley. Gravity also pulls on the trolley. Identify the contact force and the non-contact force.
Apply
- A 48 N block can rest on a face of 0.06 m² or 0.015 m². Calculate both pressures and say how many times larger one is.
- A bag pulls down with 72 N. Compare a strap touching 0.012 m² of shoulder with one touching 0.024 m². Which feels less concentrated?
- A 160 N stool stands evenly on four feet. Each foot has a contact area of 0.002 m². Find the pressure under one foot.
- A 50 N box rests on a 0.10 m² tray. Another 25 N box is placed on top. Find the pressure on the tray before and after stacking.
Challenge
- A 360 N equipment stand must keep pressure at or below 1,200 Pa. Find the minimum total contact area. If there are four equal feet, what area must each foot have?
- Package A weighs 120 N and touches 0.04 m². Package B weighs 180 N and touches 0.06 m². Which produces more pressure? Explain.
- A block stands on soft clay. Its weight is doubled and its contact area is halved. By what factor does the pressure change?
- Two holes of the same size are made in the side of a bottle, one near the top and one near the bottom. With water above both holes, which hole initially gives the faster stream? Explain.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for pressure?
Pressure equals force divided by contact area. One pascal equals one newton per square metre.
Why do wide straps reduce pressure?
A wider strap spreads the same force over a larger area, so the pressure is lower.
How do you calculate pressure under one foot of a stand?
If the load is shared equally, divide the total force by the number of feet. Then divide the force on one foot by its contact area.