Hydraulic Force Calculations
Hydraulic systems work on a simple principle: pressure spreads equally through liquids. When you apply force to a small piston, that same pressure gets transmitted to a larger piston, creating a much bigger force output.
The key formula you need to master is P = F/A (Pressure = Force ÷ Area). Once you calculate the pressure from the master cylinder, you can work out the force produced by the slave cylinder.
Let's break down the first example: 50N force on 0.01m² creates 5000 N/m² pressure. Since pressure stays constant throughout the system, the larger 0.03m² slave cylinder produces 150N of force.
Top Tip: Always remember that pressure remains the same on both pistons - it's the different areas that create the force multiplication effect!
