Four structures are supported by foundations on soft clay. The table gives the normal force and foundation area for each structure.
| Structure | Normal force on clay in N\text{N}N | Foundation area in m2\text{m}^{2}m2 | Pressure on clay in Pa\text{Pa}Pa |
|---|---|---|---|
| workshop | 240 000240\,000240000 | 30 | 8000 |
| site office | 180 000180\,000180000 | 75 | |
| water tank | 360 000360\,000360000 | 24 | |
| storage unit | 480 000480\,000480000 | 40 |
Complete the table.
On this site, a foundation settles less when the pressure on the clay is smaller.
Give the structure expected to settle the least.
The storage unit has a larger foundation area than the workshop, but it produces a greater pressure on the clay.
Explain how the data account for this greater pressure.
132 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 15.2 Pressure in fluids, covering 15.2.1 Atmospheric pressure and height, 15.2.2 Pressure in fluids, 15.2.3 Pressure, force and area, 15.2.4 Pressure and depth, 15.2.5 Pressure in liquids: depth and density, 15.2.6 Upthrust, and 15.2.7 Floating and sinking. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.