What is the Difference Between Force and Pressure?

The difference between force and pressure can be understood through their definitions and applications:

• Force is the push or pull that causes an object to change its state of motion or direction. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. Force can be measured using a dynamometer and is expressed in units of Newton (N). Examples of force include the gravitational force acting on an object and the force exerted by a person pushing a wall.
• Pressure is the force acting on an object perpendicular to the object's surface, resulting in the spreading of force over a certain area. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it does not have a direction. Pressure can be measured using a manometer and is calculated using the formula: pressure = force ÷ area. Pressure is expressed in units of Pascal (Pa). Examples of pressure include the pressure exerted by a person standing on one foot or the pressure created by a gas inside a container.

Some key differences between force and pressure include:

1. Force is the push and pull action resulting in the change of motion and direction, while pressure is the force acting on an object perpendicular to the object's surface.
2. Force can be acted upon on the face, edges, side, or vertices of the object, while pressure only acts on the surface or face of the object.
3. The velocity of an object can be changed with the application of force in one direction, while pressure on the object won't change the direction of the object.
4. If force is applied over a large area, then pressure is said to be low, and if the same force is applied to a small area, then the resulting pressure is said to be high.

Comparative Table: Force vs Pressure

The difference between force and pressure can be summarized in the following table:

In summary, force is the push or pull action that results in the change of motion and direction, and it is a vector quantity with both direction and magnitude. On the other hand, pressure is the force acting per unit area and is a scalar quantity with only magnitude and no direction.