When studying hydraulics, it is important to understand the difference between force and pressure. Force is a measurable amount acting on an object. For instance, on Earth, a man standing on a bathroom scale is pulled down by the force of gravity. This force is called ‘weight’. When the same man stands on a snow bank, he is still being pulled down by the same force, yet unlike when standing on the scale, he crushes through the snow on the ground. This happens because the force is concentrated in too small an area for the loose snow to support his weight. Pressure is the force acting on a given area. When the man stands on the snow bank, the force (his weight) is concentrated on the relatively small area of his feet, creating too much pressure for the snow to hold him up.