A 50.0-N brick has the following measures: 30.0 cm × 10.0 cm × 4.00 cm.What is the maximum pressure it can exert on a horizontal surface due to its interaction with Earth?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The maximum pressure that the brick can exert on a horizontal surface will occur when it is placed on its smallest dimension, which is 4.00 cm. The area of contact between the brick and the surface will be:

A = (10.0 cm) x (4.00 cm) = 40.0 cm^2 = 0.0040 m^2

The pressure will be:

P = F/A = 50.0 N / 0.0040 m^2 = 12.5 kPa

Therefore, the maximum pressure the brick can exert on a horizontal surface is 12.5 kPa. The correct answer is (D).

A 500-N Brick Has the Following Measures: 30