Pascal (Pa)

Definition

The pascal (Pa) is the SI unit of pressure, defined as one newton per square meter. It quantifies the force applied perpendicular to the surface area of an object.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. 1 pascal is equivalent to 1 newton per square meter (N/m²).
2. Pascal is named after Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician, physicist, and inventor.
3. Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is approximately 101,325 Pa.
4. Pascal can be used to measure various types of pressure such as gas pressure, fluid pressure, and atmospheric pressure.
5. In chemistry, pascals are often used in calculations involving the Ideal Gas Law ($PV = nRT$).

Review Questions

• What is the definition of a pascal?
• How many pascals are there in standard atmospheric pressure?
• In what type of scientific calculations might you commonly encounter pascals?

Related terms

Atmosphere (atm): A unit of pressure defined as being precisely equal to 101,325 Pa.

Ideal Gas Law: $PV = nRT$, describes the behavior of an ideal gas where P represents pressure in pascals.

Bar: A unit of pressure equal to $100,000 \, Pa$ or $100 \, kPa$, often used in meteorology and engineering.