A brick stands on a box having 60 cm length, 40 cm breadth and 20 cm width. Pressure exerted by the brick will be:

Options

A. Maximum when length and breadth form the base
B. Maximum when breadth and width form the base
C. Maximum when width and length form the base
D. The same in all the above three cases

Explanation

To solve the problem of determining the pressure exerted by the brick on the box, we will follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Concept of Pressure
Pressure is defined as the force exerted per unit area. The formula for pressure (P) is given by:
\[ P = \frac{F}{A} \]
where:
- \( P \) is the pressure,
- \( F \) is the force (weight of the brick in this case),
- \( A \) is the area of the base in contact with the surface.

### Step 2: Identify the Dimensions of the Box
The dimensions of the box are:
- Length (L) = 60 cm
- Breadth (B) = 40 cm
- Width (W) = 20 cm

### Step 3: Calculate the Area for Different Base Configurations
We need to consider the different combinations of dimensions that can serve as the base for the brick:

1. **Length and Breadth (L x B)**:
\[ A_1 = L \times B = 60 \, \text{cm} \times 40 \, \text{cm} = 2400 \, \text{cm}^2 \]

2. **Breadth and Width (B x W)**:
\[ A_2 = B \times W = 40 \, \text{cm} \times 20 \, \text{cm} = 800 \, \text{cm}^2 \]

3. **Width and Length (W x L)**:
\[ A_3 = W \times L = 20 \, \text{cm} \times 60 \, \text{cm} = 1200 \, \text{cm}^2 \]

### Step 4: Determine the Minimum Area
From the calculated areas:
- \( A_1 = 2400 \, \text{cm}^2 \)
- \( A_2 = 800 \, \text{cm}^2 \)
- \( A_3 = 1200 \, \text{cm}^2 \)

The minimum area is \( A_2 = 800 \, \text{cm}^2 \) (Breadth and Width).

### Step 5: Conclusion on Pressure
Since pressure is inversely proportional to area, the configuration that provides the minimum area will result in the maximum pressure. Therefore, the pressure exerted by the brick will be maximum when the base is formed by the breadth and width of the box.

### Final Answer
The pressure exerted by the brick will be maximum when the breadth and width form the base.