Calculating Force in a Hydraulic Press

[C-A-L]

Homework Statement

In the hydraulic press used in a trash compactor, the radius of the input piston and the output piston are 0.00640 meters and 0.0510 meters, respectively. The height difference between the input piston and the output piston can be neglected. Calculate the force exerted by the output piston when the force applied to the input piston is 330 N?

Homework Equations

P= F / A = F=P*A

The Attempt at a Solution

I am not sure what to use as pressure to find the force?

F=P* 0.0510

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi C-A-L! Welcome to PF!

I am not sure what to use as pressure to find the force?

All you need to know is that the https://www.physicsforums.com/library.php?do=view_item&itemid=80" is constant …

use your F = PA equation (twice) …

what do you get? ​

 

[C-A-L]

p = 330/(0.0064)=46875 N/m²

Then...

F=P*A

F=46875* 0.0064= 300N

So the 300N is the force exerted on the output piston?

 

[tiny-tim]

p = 330/(0.0064)=46875 N/m²

Then...

F=P*A

F=46875* 0.0064= 300N

So the 300N is the force exerted on the output piston?

uhh?

all you've done is divide by .0064, and then multiply by it again …

though somehow you didn't get back to where you started from

start again, this time use both radiuses, also remember it isn't radius, it's area in the formula ​

 

[C-A-L]

input 0.00640²*3.14= 1.29 x 10^-4
output area equals .00816

F=46875* (0.00816*0.000129)
=4.93NThis is what I have but I know it's wrong because the force is to small, where did I go wrong?

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi C-A-L!

F=46875* (0.00816*0.000129)
=4.93N

Your areas are correct, but I don't understand this equation at all …

you should always write out your formula first, in this case using F₁ F₂ A₁ and A₂ …

what is it?​

 

[C-A-L]

I see where I was confused I setup the problem F₁A₂=F₂A₁
I found the answer thank you for your help.