Final answer:
Cylinder cushions are utilized to protect a cylinder by reducing mechanical force at the end of the piston strokes. Flywheels in piston engines even out vibrations by providing rotational inertia. In hydraulic systems, applying force over a smaller area can lead to greater force over a larger area.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cylinder cushions are used to reduce the mechanical force on a cylinder, especially to protect it from damage at critical points of operation. In the context of a piston within a hydraulic system or an internal combustion engine, these cushions can be important during different strokes of the piston's operation. For instance, in a four-stroke internal combustion engine, the piston goes through an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a power stroke, and an exhaust stroke. The cushions primarily serve to absorb shock and reduce the impact at the end of the stroke, whether it is the extend or return stroke, particularly when the piston changes directions abruptly.
Helping to smooth out the operation, flywheels are also integral to piston engines, providing a smoothing effect on engine vibrations caused by individual piston firings. This is because the flywheel acts as a rotational inertia device, smoothing out the surges in mechanical energy as the engine cycles through its different strokes. In any hydraulic system, the relationship between force and area is crucial, as described by hydraulic principles, where force applied to a smaller area can lead to a larger force over a greater area, benefiting from the conservation of energy in a ‘closed’ system where friction is negligible.