Two heavy books rest on a library desk. The normal force each book exerts on the desk and its contact area are shown in the table.
| Book | Normal force in N\text{N}N | Contact area in m2\text{m}^{2}m2 |
|---|---|---|
| A | 16 | 0.040 |
| B | 18 | 0.060 |
Pressure is calculated using P=FAP=\dfrac{F}{A}P=AF.
Calculate the pressure exerted on the desk by each book.
A third book exerts the same normal force when it is turned onto a face with a larger contact area.
State what happens to the pressure exerted by the book on the desk.
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.