Question

In a hydraulic press, a load of 2000 kgf is to be balanced on the piston area of 80 cm² by a force of 100 kgf on piston of smaller area. Find the area of smaller piston.

Answer 1

The hydraulic press is based on the principle of Pascal's law , which states that any pressure change in a liquid is uniformly distributed throughout the liquid

Let F1 = 2000 Kgf= force of smaller piston

F2= 100 Kgf = force of large piston

A2= 80 cm^2 = area of large piston

A1= area of the smaller piston

For the hydraulic machine using Pascal's law -

P1 = P2 = pressure at both piston of the hydraulic press will be equal

P1 = F1/A1 , P2 = F2/A2

=> F1/A1 = F2/A2

=> A1=(F1×A2)/F2

=> A1=(100×80)/2000

=> A1= 4 cm^2

The area of the smaller piston = 4 cm^2