What is a pascal equal to?

A pascal is a unit of pressure defined as one newton per square meter. This measurement indicates how much force is applied over an area, making it a critical unit in various fields, especially in engineering and physics. When you say that pressure is exerted over a given area, you are essentially describing how many newtons (force) are distributed across a square meter (area). Therefore, the definition aligns perfectly with the value that one pascal represents: 1 N/m². This understanding helps in various applications, such as calculating stress or pressure in fluid dynamics or machinery operations.

Other options present different units that do not accurately define a pascal: joules are a measure of energy, not pressure; kilograms per square centimeter is a unit of density or mass per area, and kilograms per square meter does not directly relate to the definition of pressure as defined by pascals. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why the correct answer is indeed the definition that captures the relationship of force to area in the context of pressure measurement.