Answer to Question #125657 in Molecular Physics | Thermodynamics for Vidurjah Perananthan

Question

Task 1


Estimate how much pressure you exert on the ground when standing up. Carefully account for the measurement data that you use when solving the problem

Answer 1

Suppose during the measurements we obtain, that the area of one foot is $A_1 = 120 cm^2 = 0.012m^2$. Then for both will be:

$$A = 2A_1 = 2\cdot 0.012m^2 = 0.024m^2$$

Also, suppose, the mass is $m =60 kg$.

By definition, the preassure is given by:

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

where $N$ is the weight of body and $A$ is the area of feet.

Thus:

$$P = \dfrac{mg}{A} = \dfrac{60\cdot 9.81}{0.024} \approx 24.5\cdot 10^{3}Pa = 24.5\space kPa$$

Answer. $P = \dfrac{mg}{A} =24.5 kPa$.