Final answer:
The height of the pedal cylinder relative to the wheel cylinder in a hydraulic system has no effect on the force produced at the wheel cylinder due to Pascal's Principle, which ensures pressure changes are transmitted equally throughout an incompressible fluid.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the impact of the height of the pedal cylinder relative to the wheel cylinder in a hydraulic system, Pascal's Principle is the key to understanding the effect on force at the wheel cylinder. Pascal's Principle states that when pressure is applied to a confined fluid, the pressure change is transmitted undiminished to all portions of the fluid and to the walls of its container. Therefore, if the pedal cylinder is at a greater height than the wheel cylinder, it will have no effect on the force produced at the wheel cylinder, as long as the fluid is incompressible and friction losses are negligible. The force produced by the hydraulic system is determined by the ratio of the areas of the two cylinders. If the wheel cylinder has a greater area than the pedal cylinder, the system is designed to exert a force larger than the force applied at the pedal cylinder. This is because the pressure applied by the pedal cylinder is transmitted equally throughout the fluid and acts on the larger area of the wheel cylinder, resulting in a greater force.