By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
Pressure is force spread over an area. The same force produces more pressure when concentrated on a small area, which is why a sharp knife cuts easily and snowshoes keep you from sinking. This calculator solves P = F/A for any of the three quantities.
Pressure, force or contact area from P = F/A.
P = F / A
P is pressure in pascals (N/m²), F is the perpendicular force in newtons and A is the contact area in square metres. Pressure is a scalar; it acts equally in all directions within a fluid.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| P | Pressure, in pascals. |
| F | Force perpendicular to the surface, in newtons. |
| A | Contact area, in square metres. |
100 N spread over 0.5 m² gives 200 Pa, or 0.002 bar. Concentrating the same force on 0.5 cm² would raise the pressure a hundredfold to 20 kPa.
Continue with the Seesaw Balance Calculator, Torque Calculator, or the Beam Reaction Calculator — or browse more statics tools and all physics calculators.
The edge has a tiny contact area, so the same hand force produces a much higher pressure on the food. A blunt blade spreads the force and the pressure falls.
Results are computed from the standard equations of classical mechanics. Unit conversions use the SI definitions published by NIST. Air resistance is ignored unless the calculator names a drag model.
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Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
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Content updated: September 2026