Question

A wooden block with the dimensions of 3 m x 4 m x 5 m is placed on a floor. If the mass of the metal block is 400 kg, what is the maximum pressure that can be exerted by the metal block on the floor?

Answer 1

The pressure exerted on the floor is equal to 326 N/ m2

Explanation:

From the definition of pressure, we have

Pressure = force per unit area

Here we are given with the mass and the dimensions of block. So, if we assume that area dimensions are

Length = 3m

Width = 4m

acceleration is due to gravity e.g. g = 9.8 ms-2

Then,  

Pressure = mass* acceleration/ area

P = 400 * 9.8 / 3*4 = 326 N/ m2