A hydraulic system has two pistons at the same vertical height and negligible friction. Which relation connects the forces and the areas?
AForce over area is equal at both pistons
BForce times area is equal at both pistons
CForce plus area is equal at both pistons
DArea over force differs at the two pistons
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Force over area is equal at both pistons
1. The pressure created at the first piston is its force divided by its area.
2. Pascal's principle carries that pressure undiminished through the enclosed fluid to the second piston.
3. Equal pressure at both pistons means force divided by area is the same at each one.
4. So a larger area at the output gives a proportionally larger output force.
5. Force times area would fall as the piston grew, and adding a force to an area is not even dimensionally possible.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 11 "Fluid Statics", section 11.5 Pascal's Principle_
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