A student stacks some identical flat circular wooden blocks on a flat desk.
There are 6 blocks in the stack. The weight of each block is 0.45 N0.45 \text{ N}0.45 N. The surface area of the flat bottom of each block is 0.0050 m20.0050 \text{ m}^20.0050 m2.
State the equation linking pressure, force, and area.
Calculate the pressure on the desk caused by the stack of blocks.
The student then spreads the 6 blocks out so that they all lay flat on the desk, not overlapping.
Describe how this affects the total force from the blocks on the desk.
Explain how this affects the average pressure on the areas of the desk in contact with the blocks.
