Question

"A 500-N weight sits on the small piston of a hydraulic machine. The small piston has an area of 2.0 cm2. If the large piston has an area of 40 cm2, how much weight can the large piston support? Assume the pistons each have negligible weight."

Answer 1

Answer:

10000 N

Explanation:

$F_1$ = Force on small piston = 500 N

$F_2$ = Force on large piston

$A_1$ = Area of small piston = 2 cm²

$A_2$ = Area of large piston = 40 cm²

From Pascal's law we have

$\dfrac{F_1}{A_1}=\dfrac{F_2}{A_2}\\\Rightarrow F_2=\dfrac{F_1A_2}{A_1}\\\Rightarrow F_2=\dfrac{500\times 40}{2}\\\Rightarrow F_2=10000\ N$

Weight the large piston can support is 10000 N