Interactive Simulator

Will It Sink, or Will It Pierce?

Choose a surface, then set the force pressing down and the contact area. The pressure is p = F divided by A in pascals. If it stays below the pressure the surface can bear, the object rests on top; if it goes over, the object sinks in or pierces through. For a resting object the force is its weight, W = mg.

Surface
Halving the contact area changes the pressure to
force pressing down 700 N
contact area A 0.050 m²
pressure p = F ÷ A 14000 Pa
surface holds up to 5000 Pa
outcome sinks in