When considering the act of breaking something, both force and pressure are relevant factors, but they are not the same thing.
Force is a measure of the strength or intensity of an interaction between objects. It is typically represented as a push or a pull exerted on an object. Force is directly related to the acceleration of an object according to Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma).
Pressure, on the other hand, is defined as the force applied per unit area. It is the result of a force distributed over an area perpendicular to that force. Pressure is typically expressed in units such as pounds per square inch (psi) or pascals (Pa). The formula for pressure is P = F/A, where P represents pressure, F represents force, and A represents the area over which the force is distributed.
To break something, both the force and the pressure exerted on the object play a role. The force determines the magnitude of the interaction, while the pressure depends on the distribution of that force over a given area. In some cases, a high force concentrated on a small area can result in a high pressure that can cause the object to break. However, it's important to note that the ability to break an object depends on various factors, including the material properties, structural integrity, and the type of force or pressure applied.