Pressure of Solids
Why a sharp knife cuts easily but wide skis keep you on top of the snow
Big Idea: The same push can feel gentle or fierce depending on how much surface it is spread over. Pressure tells us how strongly a force presses on each little piece of area. Squeeze a force onto a tiny area and the pressure is huge; spread it over a wide area and the pressure is small.
By the end you will be able to:
- say in your own words what pressure means,
- use the formula p = F / S and its units,
- give the unit of pressure, the pascal (Pa), and what it equals,
- explain how to increase pressure (smaller area or bigger force),
- explain how to decrease pressure (bigger area or smaller force),
- point out real examples from everyday life.