How does area affect pressure exerted by a force?

The area affects pressure exerted by a force because pressure is the force applied per unit area.

Pressure is a measure of how much force is applied over a certain area. It is calculated by dividing the force by the area over which it is applied. This relationship is expressed in the formula P=F/A, where P is pressure, F is force, and A is area. Therefore, if the area increases while the force remains constant, the pressure decreases. Conversely, if the area decreases while the force remains constant, the pressure increases.

Imagine you're standing on soft ground wearing regular shoes. Your weight, which is a force, is distributed over the area of the soles of your shoes. Now, imagine you're wearing stiletto heels, which have a much smaller area in contact with the ground. Your weight hasn't changed, but the area over which it's distributed has decreased significantly. This means the pressure on the ground (and on the heel of your foot) is much greater when wearing stilettos than when wearing regular shoes.

This principle is also applied in many practical situations. For example, a sharp knife has a very small area at its edge. When a force is applied to the knife, the pressure exerted by the edge is very high because the force is concentrated over a small area. This high pressure allows the knife to cut through materials.

In summary, the area over which a force is applied significantly affects the pressure exerted. A larger area results in less pressure for a given force, while a smaller area results in greater pressure. This principle is fundamental in understanding many phenomena and is widely applied in various fields, from engineering to medicine.