Question

The area of the piston to the master cylinder in a hydraulic braking system of a car is 0.6 square inches. If a force of 5.6 lb is applied to this piston, what is the force on the brake pad of one wheel if the area of the pad is 1.8 square inches? (Hint: Since the force on each of the four wheels would be the same, you only need to calculate the force on one.)

Answer 1

Answer:

16.8 lb is the force on the brake pad of one wheel.

Explanation:

Force applied on the piston = $F_1=5.6 lb$

Area of the piston = $A_1=0.6 inches^2$

Force applied on the brakes = $F_2$

Area of the brakes = $A_2=1.8 inches^2$

Applying Pascal's law: 'For an incompressible fluid pressure at one surface is equal to the pressure at other surface'.

$\frac{F_1}{A_2}=\frac{F_2}{A_2}$

$F_2=\frac{5.6 lb\times 1.8 inhes^2}{0.6 inches^2}=16.8 lb$

16.8 lb is the force on the brake pad of one wheel.