so if you push down on a scale and it says 15 pounds does that mean I apply 15 pounds of pressure or is it more complicated than that
In: Physics
If you push down on a scale and it says 15 pounds, this means you are applying 15 pounds of force. However, pressure is different from force. Force is the total push you apply, and it’s measured in pounds (or Newtons in the metric system). Pressure is the force spread over an area, and it’s measured in pounds per square inch (PSI) or similar units.
So, the scale is measuring the force you’re applying, not pressure. To calculate pressure, you would need to know the area over which that 15 pounds of force is being applied.
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