Final answer:
The force exerted by a hydraulic system depends on the pressure applied to the fluid and the area of the pistons involved. By increasing the surface area of the piston that the force is applied to, a hydraulic system can generate a larger output force.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hydraulic systems are controlled by the ratio of force to area. The force exerted by a hydraulic system depends on the pressure applied to the fluid and the area of the pistons involved. By increasing the surface area of the piston that the force is applied to, a hydraulic system can generate a larger output force.
For example, if a 100-N force is applied to the left cylinder and the right cylinder has an area five times greater, then the output force is 500 N. This is because the pressure is distributed over a larger area, resulting in a larger force.
Therefore, the actions that determine how fast a hydraulic system moves are the pressure applied to the fluid and the surface area of the pistons involved.