Pressure from Block Orientations · PhysicsBowl 2021 #16
Physics · mechanics
Problem
A uniform wooden block is a rectangular prism with dimensions of 10 cm x 6 cm x 2 cm. The block will be placed on a level table in one of three possible orientations with a side parallel to the tabletop. Let PL equal the largest possible pressure the block can exert on the table and PS equal the smallest possible pressure the block can exert on the table. What is the ratio PL/PS?
A) 5/3 B) 3 C) 5 D) 9 E) 25