A rectangular wooden block has a weight of 40 N. Its dimensions are 20 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm.
The block is placed on a table in two different ways:
Position A: Lying on its widest face (20 cm x 10 cm).
Position B: Standing on its narrowest face (10 cm x 5 cm).
What is the higher of the two pressures exerted by the block on the table?

Answer: C. 8000 Pa

Pressure = Force / Area.
Position A: area = 0.20 m x 0.10 m = 0.02 m², pressure = 40 / 0.02 = 2000 Pa.
Position B: area = 0.10 m x 0.05 m = 0.005 m², pressure = 40 / 0.005 = 8000 Pa.
The pressure is higher in Position B (8000 Pa) because the same force acts on a smaller area.

Answering after opening this box earns no Practice Points.