Calculating Mass to Support Car Weight on Hydraulic Lift

[mujadeo]

Homework Statement

A hydraulic lift has two connected pistons with cross-sectional areas 5 cm^2 and 550 cm^2. It is filled with oil of density 520 kg/m3.


a) What mass must be placed on the small piston to support a car of mass 1500 kg at equal fluid levels?

Homework Equations

Is the oil density a red herring in this question?

The Attempt at a Solution

F = mg (A1/A2)

F = mg (5cm/550cm)^2

F = (1500kg)(9.81)(5cm/550cm)^2

F = 1.261N = wrong!

please help!

 

[mgb_phys]

A hydraulic system is just ratios.
In this case just the ratio of the two areas

 

[Shooting Star]

> F = (1500kg)(9.81)(5cm/550cm)^2


??
Re-think...

 

[mujadeo]

sorry for the redirect, but i am a lot further along on this problem and posted different question (from the same problem)
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=1572416#post1572416