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?

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.