ASVAB · Fluids and Hydraulics

A hydraulic press has a small piston with area 2 cm² and a large piston with area 20 cm². If 10 N of force is applied to the small piston, what force does the large piston exert?

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Correct answer

100 N

A 100 N
B 10 N
C 200 N
D 50 N

Why this is the answer

PASCAL'S PRINCIPLE: In a closed fluid system, pressure is transmitted equally in all directions. Pressure = Force ÷ Area. Small piston: P = 10N ÷ 2cm² = 5 N/cm². Same pressure at large piston: Force = P × Area = 5 N/cm² × 20 cm² = 100 N. MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE = large area ÷ small area = 20/2 = 10. Input force × MA = Output force: 10N × 10 = 100N. Hydraulic systems are used in: car brakes (small pedal force → large caliper force); hydraulic jacks; heavy machinery. As with all mechanical advantage: the large piston moves 10× less distance than the small piston moves.

Source: ASVAB MC, Hydraulics — Pascal's Principle

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About this topic: Fluids and Hydraulics

Fluids and hydraulics questions cover pressure (force ÷ area), Pascal's principle in hydraulic jacks and brakes, buoyancy, and how fluid speed and pressure change in pipes of different sizes. This is one of 13 Mechanical Comprehension questions on fluids and hydraulics, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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A hydraulic press has a small piston with area 2 cm² and a large piston with area 20 cm². If 10 N of force is applied to the small piston, what force does the large piston exert?

Why this is the answer

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About this topic: Fluids and Hydraulics

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