Answer:
Approximately 1.5 × 10⁵ Pa.
Explanation:
In simple words, pressure [tex]P[/tex] is the normal force per unit area:
[tex]\displaystyle P = \frac{F(\text{Normal Force})}{A}[/tex],
where
What will be the size of the normal force?
Weight [tex]W[/tex] of the elephant, which is the same as the gravitational pull on the elephant, will be:
[tex]W = m \cdot g = 6000\times 9.81 = 58860\;\text{N}[/tex],
where
The elephant stands on solid ground. It's not accelerating upward or downward. Forces on the elephant are balanced. As a result, the size of the normal force on the elephant will be the same as that of the earth's gravitational pull on the elephant (not the case in an accelerating elevator.)
[tex]F(\text{Normal Force}) = W = 58860\;\text{N}[/tex].
Each elephant got four feet. The area of each foot is [tex]0.10\;\text{m}^{2}[/tex]. The total contact area will be [tex]4 \times 0.10 = 0.40\;\text{m}^{2}[/tex].
Apply the formula. Make sure both the normal force and the contact area are in SI units:
If that's the case, the pressure result will be in the unit newtons per square meters [tex]\text{N}\cdot \text{m}^{-2}[/tex] or equivalently, Pascals [tex]\text{Pa}[/tex].
[tex]\displaystyle P = \frac{F(\text{Normal Force})}{A} = \frac{58860\;\text{N}}{0.40\;\text{m}^{2}} \approx 1.5\times 10^{5}\;\text{N}\cdot\text{m}^{-2} = 1.5\times 10^{5}\;\text{Pa}[/tex].
