a block of wood of mass 6 kg and dimensions 50 cm*30 cm*20 cm is placed on a table top. Find the pressure exerted if the block lies on the tabletop with the sides of dimensions
a) 50 cm*30 cm
b) 30 cm* 20 cm

Dear Student,

Mass of Wooden block (m) = 6 kg
Acceleration due to Gravity (g) = 10 m/s²

So, Force can be calculated by using the relation: F = m $\times$ a

F = 6 $\times$ 10
F = 60 N

Now, we need to calculate the value of Pressure in 2 cases by using the relation: $\mathrm{P}=\frac{\mathrm{F}}{\mathrm{A}}$
I Case- (When dimensions are 50 cm and 30 cm)

F = 60 N
Length = 50 cm = 0.5 m
Breadth = 30 cm = 0.3 m
Area of rectangle = Length x Breadth
                            = 0.5 $\times$ 0.3  = 0.15 m
So,
$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{P}=\frac{\mathrm{F}}{\mathrm{A}} \\ \mathrm{P}=\frac{60}{0.15} \\ \mathbf{P}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{400}\mathbf{ }\mathbf{Pa} \end{gathered}$$

II Case- (When dimensions are 30 cm and 20 cm)

F = 60 N
Length = 30 cm = 0.3 m
Breadth = 20 cm = 0.2 m
Area of rectangle = Length x Breadth
                            = 0.3 $\times$ 0.2  = 0.06 m
So,
$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{P}=\frac{\mathrm{F}}{\mathrm{A}} \\ \mathrm{P}=\frac{60}{0.06} \\ \mathbf{P}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{6000}\mathbf{ }\mathbf{Pa} \end{gathered}$$

Hope this information clears your doubts about the topic.

Keep asking!!

Regards