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Question
There are two boats, A and B. Boat A has a base area of 7 m² and 5 persons in it. Boat B has a base area of 3.5 m² and 3 persons in it. If each person weighs 700 N, find which boat experiences more pressure on its base, and by how much.
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Answer
Boat B has more pressure on its base, by 100 N/m².
Explanation
- Boat A: force = 5 × 700 = 3500 N over 7 m².
- Boat B: force = 3 × 700 = 2100 N over 3.5 m².
\( P_A = \dfrac{3500\ \text{N}}{7\ \text{m}^2} = 500\ \text{N/m}^2 \)
\( P_B = \dfrac{2100\ \text{N}}{3.5\ \text{m}^2} = 600\ \text{N/m}^2 \)
- Boat B's pressure is greater by \( 600 - 500 = 100\ \text{N/m}^2 \).
Boat B exerts 600 N/m² against Boat A's 500 N/m² — 100 N/m² more.
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