Answer to Question #184954 in Civil and Environmental Engineering for John Prats

Question

A hydraulic press has a small piston of diameter 2 cm. If a force of 60 N is applied to the smaller piston, a force of 300 N is exerted on the larger piston. What is the diameter of the larger piston?

Answer 1

Pascal's Principle: $F1/A1=F2/A2$

F₁=60N r₁=(2÷2)1/100

r₁=0.01m

F₂=300N r₂=?

A=(πr²)

A₁=π(0.01²)m²

A₂=π(r²)m²

(60N/π(0.01)²)=300N/π(r²)

r²/0.01²=5

√ r²=√0.0005

r=0.0224m

r= (0.224x100) cm

r=2.24cm

Diameter= (2.24cm x2)

D=4.48 cm