A 13 500-N car on a hydraulic lift rests on a cylinder with a piston of radius 0.10 m.If a connecting cylinder with a piston of 0.050-m radius is driven by compressed air,what force must be applied to this smaller piston in order to lift the car?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using Pascal's principle, the force applied to the smaller piston is calculated by the ratio of the areas of the pistons: F1/A1 = F2/A2. Solving for F1 gives F1 = (A1/A2) * F2 = (π*(0.05)^2/π*(0.10)^2) * 13,500 N = 3,375 N.

A 13 500-N Car on a Hydraulic Lift Rests on a Cylinder