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One use of hydraulics: we can use a small force to lift heavy objects. For example in a closed hydraulic system, if one piston has a surface area of 1 square inch, applying 10 pounds of force to this piston adds 10 psi (pounds per square inch) pressure to the system. Since pressure is the same throughout the system, then the other piston also has 10 pounds per square inch. If the surface area of that piston is 10 square inches, then each square inch has the same 10 psi, so the total force on the larger piston is 100 pounds.

You do not get something for nothing, though. The volume of this system is constant, so if you want the larger piston to move 1 inch (that's 1 inch times 10 square inches = 10 cubic inches), then the small piston must move 10 inches (10 inches times 1 square inch = 10 cubic inches).

This makes us think that doing something useful, like lifting a car 5 or 6 feet off the ground, so that we can work under it, seems impractical. A power assisted hydraulic system uses a pump to increase the pressure, rather than a simple piston.

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12y ago

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