What does cross-sectional area mean in hydraulic lifts?

[mattmannmf]

what does cross sectional area mean?

A hydraulic lift has two connected pistons with cross-sectional areas 5 cm2 and 650 cm2. It is filled with oil of density 720 kg/m3.

Is it the diameter? I don't know

 

[NBAJam100]

what does cross sectional area mean?

A hydraulic lift has two connected pistons with cross-sectional areas 5 cm2 and 650 cm2. It is filled with oil of density 720 kg/m3.

Is it the diameter? I don't know

The cross sectional area in this case is the same as the area of a circle

A=pi*r^2

Cross-sectional area means pretty much what it says, the area of a cross-section of the item. In this case a piston. So if you think about a section of a piston and look at it head on, its just a circle.

 

[mattmannmf]

ok thanks