Question

A force of 6600 N is exerted on a piston that has an area of 0.010 m2

What area is required for a second piston to exert a force of 9900 N?
Fi F2
Use
A Ą
A. 0.015 m2
B. 150 m2
C. 0.0066 m2
D. 66 m2

Answer 1

Choice A: approximately
`0.015\; \rm m^2`, assuming that the two pistons are connected via some confined liquid to form a simple machine.

Step-by-step explanation:

Assume that the two pistons are connected via some liquid that is confined. Pressure from the first piston:

`\displaystyle P_1 = (F_1)/(A_1) = (6.600* 10^3\; \rm N)/(1.0* 10^(-2)\; \rm m^(2)) = 6.6* 10^(5)\; \rm N \cdot m^(-2)`.

By Pascal's Principle, because the first piston exerted a pressure of
`6.6* 10^(5)\; \rm N \cdot m^(-2)` on the liquid, the liquid will now exert the same amount of pressure on the walls of the container.

Assume that the second piston is part of that wall. The pressure on the second piston will also be
`6.6* 10^(5)\; \rm N \cdot m^(-2)`. In other words:

`P_2 = P_1 = 6.6* 10^(5)\; \rm N \cdot m^(-2)`.

To achieve a force of
`9.900 * 10^3\; \rm N`, the surface area of the second piston should be:

`\displaystyle A_2 = (F_2)/(P_2) = (9.900* 10^(3)\; \rm N)/(6.6* 10^5\; \rm N \cdot m^(-2)) \approx 0.015\; \rm m^(2)`.