Why pressure is a scalar quantity?


Physical quantities are divided into two categories:

1. Scalar Quantity - It is the quantity having only magnitude and no specific direction. For example- length, area, speed mass, density, pressure, temperature, work, energy, etc.

2. Vectors Quantity It is the quantity having a magnitude and a particular direction. For example- displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, drag, etc.

Pressure is defined as the ratio of the force (acting normal to a surface) to the area (the surface on which the force is acting).

$P=\frac{Force\ (perpendicular)}{Area}$

If the force is not normal to the plane of the surface then the component normal to the plane is taken into consideration.

While calculating the pressure, only the component of the force that is normal to the surface, on which it is acting, is taken. Therefore, the direction of the original force does not matter, and we only need to know the magnitude of the component of the force normal to the surface. Thus, the direction of the quantity remains unchanged making the pressure a scalar quantity.

Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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