Question

If you know the amount of air pressure exerted on a tabletop, how can you calculate the force exerted on the tabletop?

Answer 1

think about the definition of pressure, pressure = force/area

Answer 2

the pressure times the area. HOWEVER, remember that the net force is the force up on the bottom minus the down force on the top and the net force may well be only the volume of the table top times the density of air.

Answer 3

times g :)
Archimedes

Answer 4

the question asks about the force exerted due to air pressure on the table TOP

Answer 5

Last time I built a table top it had a top surface and a bottom surface :)

Answer 6

Well, I can't argue with that, I just didn't interpret the question as being about bouyancy.

Answer 7

I gave the general answer because I did not know if it was a trick question or just poorly worded. The writer might better have said the force on the upper surface of the table top.

Answer 8

Agreed : )