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Stress and Pressure| Important Difference

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Difference between Stress and Pressure

Difference Between Stress And Pressure

We know that both stress and pressure have the same units, i.e. N/m2; however stress and pressure have a lot of differences between them. They are tabulated below :

StressPressure
Stress can be defined as the internal resistive force to the deformation per unit area.
i.e. Internal resistance = force/area
Pressure can be defined as the amount of external force applied per unit area.
i.e. Pressure = external pressure/area
Due to stress, the pressure will not be developed.Due to pressure, stress will be developed.
Stress can be either a positive or a negative forceThe pressure is always a positive force
Stress is developed internally. For example, when tensile stress is applied to a block, the interatomic force of attraction tries to bring these molecules to their lattice points, so the restoring force acting inside is the stress.The Pressure applies externally to the surface. For example, pressure on the ball or pressure on the surface of the liquid.
Stress acts on the solids onlyPressure occurs on liquids, fluids and gases
Stress may be tensile, compressive and shearPressure is always compressive
Stress is a vector quantityPressure is a scalar quantity
Stress is an immeasurable quantityPressure can be measured by the measuring device

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