What is the formula of pressure?

Pressure is defined as the normal force acting per unit area.

Formula: P = F / A

Meaning of symbols

• P = pressure (SI unit: pascal, Pa = N·m⁻²)
• F = perpendicular (normal) force in newtons (N)
• A = area of contact in square metres (m²)

Rearranged forms

• F = P × A
• A = F / P

Example for Pressure

A force of 200 N acts uniformly on an area of 0.02 m².
Pressure: P = 200 / 0.02 = 10,000 Pa (10 kPa)

In a liquid, pressure increases with depth: P = P0 + ρ g h, where ρ is fluid density (kg·m⁻³), g is acceleration due to gravity (m·s⁻²), and h is depth (m).