Mechanical Engineering · Machines and forces / Principles and inquiry
Pascal principle and hydraulic lift experiment guide
Change piston areas to observe inverse force and travel ratios.
How does it work?
Equal pressure gives the large piston more force over less travel.
Key relationship
F₂/F₁ = A₂/A₁ · s₂/s₁ = A₁/A₂ · F₁s₁ = F₂s₂
Try this investigation
- Change piston areas to observe inverse force and travel ratios.
- Run and record each of the three reference settings.
- Change one variable and compare force, deformation or response with the reference records.
Interpreting your results
If force is amplified tenfold, what is output travel?
One tenth of input travel · Equal pressure gives the large piston more force over less travel.
Assumptions and limitations
Incompressible fluid and frictionless pistons move quasistatically. Hydrostatic head and losses are omitted. Do not build or imitate high-pressure hydraulic equipment.