The brake system in most cars makes use of a hydraulic system. This system consists of a fluid filled tube connected at each end to a piston. Assume that the piston attached to the brake pedal has a cross sectional area of one half a square inch and the piston attached to the brake pad has a cross section area of two square inches. When you apply a force of 10 pounds to the piston attached to the brake pedal, the force at the brake pad will be,
A) 5 pounds.
B) 10 pounds.
C) 20 pounds.
D) 40 pounds.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hydraulic system follows Pascal's principle, which states that pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid. The force is multiplied by the ratio of the areas of the pistons. The area of the brake pad piston is four times that of the brake pedal piston (2 square inches / 0.5 square inches = 4). Therefore, the force is multiplied by 4, resulting in a force of 40 pounds at the brake pad.

The Brake System in Most Cars Makes Use of a Hydraulic