Pressure - CCEAImportance of pressure

Pressure is important in a range of everyday situations.

• Different styles of shoe can cause different pressures due to their area. Flat shoes spread the force over a large area, reducing the pressure. Snow shoes have a much larger area than feet to spread the force over a larger area and reduce the pressure on the snow - this stops people sinking into the snow.
• High heeled shoes or boots transfer the force through a much smaller area, causing a much greater pressure. It will hurt more if a person steps on someone’s foot in high heels than if they are wearing flat shoes.
• When using a sharp knife, the small area of the blade creates a large pressure, making cutting easier.
• Having caterpillar tracks on vehicles means their weight acts over a large area. This reduces the pressure they exert and are less likely to sink in to wet ground.