Physics Revision - Hydraulics

KEY FACTS ABOUT HYDRAULICS:

• Liquids are incompressible so they transmit pressure in all directions, also transmit force in all directions
• In a hydraulic system/machine the pressure is constant (the same) in the liquid
• In a hydraulic machine if the piston is large then the force is large also. This is because the surface area is larger, and when the surface area increases and the pressure stays the same, the force exerted will be larger
• Hydraulic systems are used in all sorts of things, e.g. car braking systems, hydrualic car jacks, manufacturing and deployment of landing gear on some aircraft
• EQUATION: PRESSURE = FORCE ÷ CROSS SECTIONAL AREA (AREA)