Is pressure a vector quantity? If no, why?

Asked by aashmir | 16th May, 2009, 08:28: PM

Expert Answer:

Pressure is the force acting on an area while force is a push or pull in a direction. Pressure thus do not have an direction, while a force has.

Pressure is a concept applied to fluids. It is force per cross sectional area. Since fluids can move the pressure is in all directions not just the direction of the force, therefore pressure has no defined direction and is a scalar. Force per area on a solid is technically not pressure though many people use that word when they should refer to that as stress.

Answered by  | 18th May, 2009, 08:41: PM
