Difference between force and pressure


Physics
2023-05-06T12:54:11+00:00

Difference between force and pressure

What is force?

Force is a physical quantity that measures the intensity with which one body can modify the state of motion of another body. That is, force is necessary to make an object move or to stop it. Force can be measured in newtons (N).

Types of forces

There are several types of forces in physics, among them we can mention:

  • Gravitational force
  • electric force
  • magnetic force
  • friction force

What is pressure?

Pressure is a physical quantity that measures the force exerted on a given surface. That is, pressure is a relationship between force and the area on which that force acts. Pressure can be measured in pascals (Pa).

Atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by air on the Earth's surface. This pressure can vary depending on the height above sea level and weather conditions.

Hydraulic pressure

Hydraulic pressure is the pressure exerted on a liquid contained in a closed system. This pressure is transmitted throughout the liquid and can be used to produce mechanical work.

Difference between force and pressure

The fundamental difference between force and pressure is that force is a scalar magnitude that measures the intensity of an action on an object, while pressure is a vector magnitude that measures the force exerted on a given surface.

  • Force is measured in newtons, while pressure is measured in pascals.
  • Force is necessary to make an object move or to stop it, while pressure is used to measure the force exerted on a surface.
  • Pressure can be used to produce mechanical work, while force is necessary for any type of movement.

In conclusion, although force and pressure are two different magnitudes, they are closely related since pressure is the force exerted on a surface. Both are fundamental in physics.

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