–

At 101 kPa, there is (0.30 x 0.30 x 101,000) = 9090 N, or about 900 kg worth of weight pressing down on the 30 cm by 30 cm pad. Because there is about 900 kg of air sitting on top of the pad!

But of course, we can’t expect the pad to lift 900 kg. Two reasons: (1) It is NOT a total vacuum under the pad. So the net downward force would be much less. (2) The pad itself (the rubber, handle knob, etc) would have been pulled apart long before that.

–

• 04 Forces