Question

calculate the pressure exerted on the floor when an elephant who weighs 2400 N stands on one foot which has an area of 0.4 m2

Answer 1

Given:

• Weight of elephant = 2400 N
• Area of one foot = 0.4 m²

To find:

Net pressure on floor ?

Calculation:

Elephant has 4 legs, so net area is :

$area = 0.4 \times 4 = 1.6 \: {m}^{2}$

Now, pressure is a scalar quantity defined as the perpendicular force magnitude divided by the net area over which the force acts.

$P = \dfrac{force}{area}$

$\implies \: P = \dfrac{2400}{1.6}$

$\implies \: P = 1500 N/m^{2}$

$\implies \: P = 1500 \: pascal$

So, pressure on floor is 1500 Pascal.