Red Seal Instrumentation and Control Technician Practice Exam

Which unit is commonly used to measure pressure?

1. Joules

2. Watts

3. Pascals (Pa) or pounds per square inch (psi)

4. Liters

The correct answer is: Pascals (Pa) or pounds per square inch (psi)

Pressure is a measure of the force applied per unit area and is commonly quantified using units such as Pascals (Pa) or pounds per square inch (psi). Pascals are the standard SI unit for pressure, defined as one newton per square meter. This makes it a direct and practical measure in scientific and engineering applications. Pounds per square inch are frequently used in the United States and certain industrial settings, making it a widely recognized unit as well. The other units mentioned are not appropriate for measuring pressure: Joules measure energy, Watts measure power (the rate of energy transfer), and Liters measure volume. Understanding the specific units that correspond to different physical quantities is crucial in the field of instrumentation and control, as accurate measurements are fundamental to system design, calibration, and troubleshooting.