Does Force Acting at an Angle Contribute to Pressure on a Surface?

In summary, if a force is exerted at an angle to a surface, the pressure exerted on the surface will be proportional to the component of the force perpendicular to the surface.
  • #1
Puneeth423
51
0
"Force acting at an angle doesn't exert pressure on a surface". Is this statement correct or wrong?
 
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  • #2
it is generaly wrong. The only angle which wouldn;t make pressure is 90 degrees
 
  • #3
xAxis said:
it is generaly wrong. The only angle which wouldn;t make pressure is 90 degrees

90 degrees with the surface?
 
  • #4
90 degrees as in parallel to the surface. Any force that has a component perpendicular to the surface will exert pressure on the surface proportional to that component. The other components of the force may not contribute to the pressure in general.
 
  • #5
Any force that has a component perpendicular to the surface will exert pressure on the surface proportional to that component.

What if the force is applied acting in a direction away from the surface?
 
  • #6
then it is a pull rather than a push...
 
  • #7
That wasn't the answer to my question, so let me rephrase it.

If the force is a pull, does it exert pressure Sometimes?, Always?, Never?
 
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  • #8
Well I am still ignorant of the situation you are referring to, but if the force is capable of pushing or pulling at the surface, then any component of the force perpendicular to the surface will contribute to pressure. Always. If you are referring to pressure of the atmospheric type, then there can be no "pulling", only pushing. So the angle would need to direct the force toward the surface.
 
  • #9
Let us suppose there are two identical blocks sitting on the table.

So there is atmospheric pressure Pa acting on the top surface (area A) of each block.

Now suppose we push down onto the top surface of one block with a force F, via say a push rod.

then the total pressue on the top surface of the block is now

Pa + F/A

If we attach a sting to the top surface of the other block and pull up with a force F, that is insufficient to lift the block off the table,

What is now the pressure on the top surface of this block?
 
  • #10
Pressure on the top surface would be equal to the pressure on the bottom surface. For the first block the Pa + F/A is the pressure required on the bottom surface to lift the block. For the block with the string it should be Pa - F/A.
 
  • #11
So what happens when F/A > Pa ?
 
  • #12
pressure will be zero and the resultant force will lift the block.
 
  • #13
OK got you. the force only partially contributes to pressure in that case...The surplus does not :)
 
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1. What is the definition of force acting at an angle?

Force acting at an angle refers to the application of a force on an object in a direction that is not directly perpendicular to the surface or direction of motion of the object.

2. What is the formula for calculating force acting at an angle?

The formula for calculating force acting at an angle is F = ma, where F is the force, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration in the direction of the force.

3. How does the angle of force affect its magnitude?

The angle of force affects its magnitude by reducing the overall force acting on the object. The component of the force in the direction of motion is proportional to the cosine of the angle, so a larger angle will result in a smaller force in that direction.

4. What is the difference between force acting at an angle and force acting in a straight line?

The difference between force acting at an angle and force acting in a straight line is that in the former, the force is applied in a direction that is not directly perpendicular to the surface or direction of motion, while in the latter, the force is applied in a direction that is directly perpendicular.

5. How can force acting at an angle be resolved into its components?

Force acting at an angle can be resolved into its components by using trigonometric functions such as sine, cosine, and tangent. The component of the force in the direction of motion can be calculated using cosine, while the component perpendicular to the direction of motion can be calculated using sine.

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