How will the pressure change if the support area is reduced without changing the pressure force?

Given:

F1 = F2 = F – the force of pressure on a certain surface does not change;

s2 <s1 – the support area has been reduced by a certain amount.

It is required to determine P2 / P1 – how the pressure on the surface will change with a decrease in the support area.

The pressure on the surface in the first case will be equal to:

P1 = F1 / s1 = F / s1.

The pressure on the surface in the second case will be equal to:

P2 = F2 / s2 = F / s2.

Then:

P2 / P1 = (F / s2) / (F / s1) = F * s1 / (F * s2) = s1 / s2.

Since by the condition of the problem s2 <s1, then P2 / P1 = s1 / s2> 1, which means that the pressure will increase.

Answer: With a decrease in the support area, the pressure will increase.