Question

A person weighing 900 N is standing on snowshoes. Each snowshoe has area 2500 cm^2. What is the pressure exerted by each individual snow shoe on the snow?

A) 0.18 N/m^2
B) 0.36 N/m^2
C) 1800 N/m^2
D) 3600 N/m^2

Is it 3600 N/m^2?

Answer 1

Pressure is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. It is expressed as:

P = F / A

We calculate as follows:

P = 900 N / (2500 cm^2)(1m / 100cm)^2
P = 900 N / 0.25 m^2
P = 3600 N/m^2 -------> OPTION D

Answer 2

Answer:

1800 N/m^2

Explanation:

As we all know, the answer above me is verified and does a great job at explaining the process. But I would like to add that there are 2 snowshoes (assuming the person has 2 legs) and the area given is only for one snowshoe.

Therefore, we should take the area A=2500 cm^2 and multiply by 2 (for two shoes). This gives us a total contact area of 5000 cm^2 or .5 m^2.

Using .5 m^2 as the area, 900 N as the force, and the formula P=F/A, we end up with a pressure or 1800 N/m^2 exerted on the snow.