Lifting a car using a hydraulic lift

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a hydraulic lift system used to elevate a car, focusing on the relationship between the forces applied on two pistons of different diameters and the resulting pressure changes. The problem involves calculating the necessary air-pressure force to support and lift a car weighing 1300 kg using a hydraulic mechanism.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the application of pressure equations and the relationship between force and area in hydraulic systems. There are attempts to calculate the required air-pressure force for both supporting and lifting the car, with some questioning the correctness of their results compared to provided solutions.

Discussion Status

Some participants have shared their calculations and reasoning, with one confirming their result aligns with the expected answer. Others express confusion regarding discrepancies between their calculations and textbook answers, indicating a productive exchange of ideas and methods.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the volume of oil remains constant during the lifting process, which may influence the calculations regarding the movement of the pistons. There is also mention of specific values for density and gravitational acceleration used in the calculations.

baddin
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1. The hydraulic lift at a repair shop is filled with oil. The car rests on a 25-cm-diameter piston. To lift the car, compressed air is pushed down on the 6-cm-diameter piston.
a) What air-pressure force will support a 1300kg car level with the compressed air piston?
b) How much must the air-pressure-force be increased to lift the car by 2m.



2. Homework Equations :
p = p + ρ*g*h
ρ=900kg/m^2

3. The Attempt at a Solution
I did a) by doing p + ρ*g*0 + F1/A1 = p + ρ*g*0 + F2/A2
Then used F1 = F2 * (A1/A2) to find that F1 is 730N, which is correct according to the solutions.

Then I attempted b) and used a similar approach.
I tried:
p + F1/A1 + ρ*g*(0) = p + ρ*g*h + F2/A2*
So I rearranged to get F1 = A1*ρ*h*g + (F2)*(A1/A2)
Finding A1, A2, and F2 easily, and using h =2m and ρ=900kg/m^3 and g = 9.8m/s^2, I keep getting F1 = 784N. So the increase in force should be 784N - 730N = 54N, but my book tells me the answer is 920N.
 
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baddin said:
b) How much must the air-pressure-force be increased to lift the car by 2m.


Then I attempted b) and used a similar approach.
I tried:
p + F1/A1 + ρ*g*(0) = p + ρ*g*h + F2/A2*
So I rearranged to get F1 = A1*ρ*h*g + (F2)*(A1/A2)
Finding A1, A2, and F2 easily, and using h =2m and ρ=900kg/m^3 and g = 9.8m/s^2, I keep getting F1 = 784N. So the increase in force should be 784N - 730N = 54N, but my book tells me the answer is 920N.

The amount of oil does not change during lifting the car. If the level increases in one arm, it should decrease in the other one. So the oil level in the compressed arm is below zero.

ehild.
 
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Thank you so much! I used the volume's of liquid displaced to calculate how much the smaller piston would go down and found that it would move down by 34.72m, while as the other larger piston would move up by 2m.
Then I used the following formula to find F1 = A1*(ρ*g*h) + F2*(A1/A2)
And got 1650N
Then 1650-730 =920N =D Thank you very much!
 
You are welcome:smile:

ehild
 

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