Calculate the pressure exerted on your finger if you hold up a 15-pound box of apples.
To calculate the pressure exerted on your finger when holding up a 15-pound box of apples, you'll need to know the area over which the weight is applied.
Pressure is defined as the force applied per unit area:
Pressure = Force / Area
In this case, the force is the weight of the box, which is 15 pounds. To obtain the pressure, we need to convert the weight from pounds to a standard unit of force, such as Newtons. 1 pound is approximately equal to 4.44822 Newtons.
Step 1: Convert the weight of the box from pounds to Newtons:
15 pounds * 4.44822 Newtons/pound = 66.7233 Newtons
Now, we need to determine the area over which the weight is distributed. Since we're considering pressure on your finger, we can estimate the area as the contact area between the box and your finger. However, without specific measurements, we can't provide an accurate answer. Nevertheless, let's assume for illustration purposes that the contact area is 2 square inches.
Step 2: Convert the area from square inches to square meters:
2 square inches * (0.00064516 square meters/square inch) = 0.00129032 square meters
Now, we can calculate the pressure exerted on your finger:
Pressure = Force / Area
Pressure = 66.7233 Newtons / 0.00129032 square meters ≈ 51,752 Newtons per square meter (Pa) or 51.752 kilopascals (kPa)
So, the pressure exerted on your finger when holding up a 15-pound box of apples, assuming a contact area of 2 square inches, is approximately 51.752 kilopascals (kPa).