How many pounds per sq foot is 5000 pounds?

Answer 1

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But . . . let's assume that the 5,000 pounds is spread out over a flat surface measuring 50 ft x 100 ft. That equals 5,000 square feet. 5,000/5,000 square feet = 1. So our 5,000 pounds would exert exactly 1 pound per square foot at every point.

Let's next say that we spread out the 5,000 pound, but thicker, on a flat surface measuring 25 feet x 50 ft. That equals 1,250 square feet. So our 5,000 pounds is now supported by only 1,250 square feet. We know by looking at it that each square foot will support more of the weight than in the first example. 5,000/1,250 = 4. So our 5,000 pounds in this case would exert exactly 4 pounds per square foot.

Carried to an extreme, let's say our 5,000 pounds sits on just one square foot of flat surface. 5,000/1 = 5,000 pounds per square foot.

Even crazier, our 5,000 pounds might sit on just a 6 inch x 6 inch flat surface. 6" = 0.25 square feet. So, once again, 5,000/.25 = 20,000 pounds per square foot.