Place the sharp head of a nail towards a wooden block it lightly by hammer. nail does not pierce the wooden block by light blow of the hammer. Using same hammer, now strike hard. Why does nail penetrate into wooden block this time? Due to the hard strike by the hammer,more force is applied due to which more pressure is applied on the object.
It is clear from both the above activities that magnitude of pressure depends on applied force. When the applied force is different on the same area than the pressure is also different on the object.
1. Why does nail penetrate into wooden block this time?
2. Why pointed nail gets into the wooden block easily, as compared to a thicker nail?
1. When nail is hammered with great force, more pressure gets exerted, hence nail penetrates into the wooden block easily this time.
2. The area of a pointed nail is less in comparison to a thicker nail. Therefore when equal force is exerted, pointed nail exerts more pressure and hence gets (penetrates) into the wooden block easily. On the basis of above two experiments, it is proved that pressure applied on any object depends on force.