What pressure would a 5000N weight of water exert at the bottom of a reservoir containing it if its length and breadth are 10m and 5m, respectively

Analysis

To solve this problem, we need to calculate the pressure exerted by a force (weight) acting on a specific surface area.

Concept

Pressure ($P$) is defined as the force ($F$) applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area ($A$). The formula is:

Where:

• $P$ is Pressure measured in Pascals (Pa) or $N/m^2$.
• $F$ is the Force (Weight) measured in Newtons (N).
• $A$ is the Area measured in square meters ($m^2$).

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Identify the given values.

• Force ($F$) = $5000 \, N$
• Length ($l$) = $10 \, m$
• Breadth ($b$) = $5 \, m$

Step 2: Calculate the Area ($A$) of the base of the reservoir. Since the reservoir has a length and breadth, the base area is:

Step 3: Calculate the Pressure ($P$). Using the formula $P = \frac{F}{A}$:

Conclusion

Comparing our result to the provided options, the calculated pressure is 100 Pa, which corresponds to option C.

Exam Tip

Always check your units before calculating! In JAMB Physics, if the area were given in centimeters ($cm^2$), you would need to convert it to meters ($m^2$) by dividing by $10,000$ before plugging it into the pressure formula. Don't let simple unit conversions cost you easy marks!