A hydraulic lift raises a 2 000-kg automobile when a 500-N force is applied to the smaller piston. If the smaller piston has an area of 10 cm², what is the cross-sectional area of the larger piston?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

We can use the formula: 
force on smaller piston/area of smaller piston = force on larger piston/area of larger piston

Substituting the given values: 
500N / (10 cm^2) = force on larger piston / area of larger piston

Solving for area of larger piston: 
Area of larger piston = (500N / 10 cm^2) x (the given mass of the car / acceleration due to gravity)
Area of larger piston = (50 N/cm^2) x (2000 kg / 9.8 m/s^2)
Area of larger piston = 1000 cm^2

Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the larger piston is 1000 cm^2, which is option D.

A Hydraulic Lift Raises a 2 000-Kg Automobile When a 500-N