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PerpStudent
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Both pressure and stress are defined in terms of force per unit area. Beyond that simple relationship, what might constitute a good intuitive way to distinguish these two concepts?
truesearch said:They are basically the same thing and the terms used tend to reflect context rather than physics. You would use 'Stress' when dealing with stretching etc, pressure when dealing with gases etc.
Similar 'problems' occur with Newton.metres which can mean work or energy (Joules) or moment as in turning effect and torque
PerpStudent said:Both pressure and stress are defined in terms of force per unit area. Beyond that simple relationship, what might constitute a good intuitive way to distinguish these two concepts?
Pressure is a force applied per unit area, while stress is a measure of the internal forces within a material. Pressure is typically measured in units of force divided by area (such as pounds per square inch or pascals), while stress is measured in units of force divided by area (such as pounds per square inch or pascals), while stress is measured in units of force divided by area (such as pounds per square inch or pascals).
Pressure and stress are related in that they both involve force being applied to a material, but they are not the same thing. Pressure applies to the surface of a material, while stress applies to the internal forces within the material. In some cases, pressure can lead to stress within a material, but this is not always the case.
Examples of pressure include the weight of a book on a table, the force of air in a tire, and the pressure exerted by water at the bottom of a swimming pool. Pressure can also be caused by physical forces, such as a person stepping on a surface or a strong wind pushing against a structure.
Examples of stress include the tension on a bridge caused by the weight of cars, the compression on a building's foundation caused by the weight of the structure, and the shear stress on a rope being pulled from both ends. Stress can also be caused by non-physical factors, such as emotional or psychological stress.
Pressure can be measured using instruments such as pressure gauges and manometers, which measure the force applied per unit area. Stress can be measured using strain gauges, which detect the deformation of a material under stress. Both pressure and stress can also be calculated using mathematical equations and formulas.