Hydraulic Systems
How liquids transfer force in systems
How Hydraulics Work
Hydraulic systems use liquids (usually oil or water) to transfer force. Liquids cannot be compressed (squeezed smaller), so when you push liquid in one place, it pushes with the same force somewhere else. This lets us multiply force to do heavy work.
Example
Hydraulic Examples
• Car brakes: pressing the pedal pushes fluid that presses brake pads
• Excavator arm: hydraulic cylinders lift the heavy bucket
• Barber's chair: pumping the lever uses hydraulics to raise the seat
• Car jack: small pump pushes fluid to lift a heavy car
A syringe connected by a tube to another syringe demonstrates this simply.
Note
Remember
Hydraulics use LIQUIDS (cannot be compressed). Pneumatics use AIR/GAS (can be compressed). Hydraulic systems are very powerful and are used in heavy machinery. Pascal's principle: pressure applied to a fluid is transmitted equally in all directions.
Key Vocabulary
HydraulicA system that uses liquid under pressure to transfer force
PressureForce applied over an area
CompressTo squeeze into a smaller space
CylinderA tube-shaped container that holds the fluid in a hydraulic system
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Hydraulic
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