Physics calculator
Pressure Calculator
Calculate pressure from perpendicular force distributed over an area.
Force must be zero or greater, and area must be greater than zero.
Pressure
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Pressure formula
Pressure is force distributed over an area. In P = F/A, P is pressure in pascals, F is perpendicular force in newtons, and A is area in square meters. One pascal equals one newton per square meter.
Worked example
A 1,000 N force spread across 2 m² produces 500 Pa. That equals 0.5 kPa, 0.0005 MPa, or approximately 0.072519 psi.
Assumptions
The calculator treats the entered force as uniformly distributed and perpendicular to the surface. Real pressure can vary across a surface. Area must be positive; zero force correctly produces zero pressure.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pascal?
A pascal is the SI pressure unit and equals one newton of force per square meter.
How many pascals are in one psi?
One pound per square inch is approximately 6,894.7573 pascals.
Why does a smaller area increase pressure?
With the same force, dividing by a smaller area produces a larger pressure.