Question

The bottom of a box has a surface area of 58.8 cm2. The mass of the box is 12.0 kg. Acceleration due to gravity at sea level is 9.80 m/s2. What is the pressure exerted by the box where it rests?
2.00 Pa
72.0 Pa
2.00 x 10^4 Pa
0.500 Pa

Answer 1

Answer:

Pressure exerted by the box is 20000 Pa                            

Explanation:

It is given that,

Surface area of the box, A = 58.8 cm² = 0.00588 m²

Mass of the box, m = 12 kg

Acceleration due to gravity, a = 9.8 m/s²

We have to find the pressure exerted by the box where it rests. Pressure exerted by an object is defined as the ratio of force exerted and the surface area of an object i.e.

$P=\dfrac{F}{A}=\dfrac{mg}{A}$

$P=\dfrac{12\ kg\times 9.8\ m/s^2}{0.00588\ m^2}$

P = 20000 Pascal

or

$P=2.00\times 10^4\ Pa$

Hence, the correct option is (c).

Answer 2

Pressure is defined as force per unit area. It  is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area. We calculate as follows:

P = F / A 
P = ma / A
P = (12)(9.80) / 58.8
P = 2 Pa

Therefore, the first option is the answer.