A 54.0-kg woman wearing high-heeled shoes is invited into a home in which the kitchen has vinyl floor covering. The heel on each shoe is circular and has a radius of 0.460 cm. (a) If the woman balances on one heel, what pressure does she exert on the floor?

Question

Makenzie Chan

Physics

15 May, 20:07

A 54.0-kg woman wearing high-heeled shoes is invited into a home in which the kitchen has vinyl floor covering. The heel on each shoe is circular and has a radius of 0.460 cm. (a) If the woman balances on one heel, what pressure does she exert on the floor?

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Ronnie Palmer · Answer 1

Pressure = (total force on an area) / (the area of the area)

Force = the woman's weight

Weight = (mass) x (gravity).

Weight = (54 kg) x (9.8 m/s²)

Weight = 529.2 Newtons

Area of a circle = (π) x (radius) ²

Area of the bottom of the heel = (π) x (0.46 cm) ²

Area of the bottom of the heel = 0.665 cm² = 0.0000665 m²

Pressure = (force) / (area)

Pressure = (529.2 N) / (6.65 x 10⁻⁵ m²)

Pressure = 7,960,756 N/m²

Pressure = 7.96 x 10⁶ Pascals

Pressure = almost 79 atmospheres!

This is why many places don't allow spikey heels to be walked in across their floors. (Really. I'm not making this up.)