LESSON: UNIT PRESSURE MEASUREMENT INVOLVING HYDRAULIC JACK

 Hydraulic jack is a device that is used to lift a weight and is controlled with hydraulic control.
While applying a small pressure on the smaller cylinder, the pressure will be transmitted
equally to the larger cylinder through the incompressible fluid. Now, the larger cylinder will
experience a force multiplication effect.
 Hydraulic Jack Working is based on Pascal’s principle. That is, the pressure applied to a fluid stored in a
container will be distributed equally in all directions.
 The important components of a hydraulic jack are cylinders, a pumping system, and hydraulic fluid(oil
is used commonly).

 The pressure is defined as force per unit area. Therefore, if a body has two endpoints different
areas, say A1 and A2;
Such that A1<A2
Then, According to Pascal’s law; P1=P2

Which means, F1/A1 = F2/A2

Then; F2=A2/A1 (F1) and F1=A1/A2 (F2)

Thus, the lifting force F2 is greater than the applied force F1

 This is the principle behind a hydraulic

jack.
Note: Pascal’s principle, also called Pascal’s law, in fluid (gas or liquid) mechanics, statement
that in a fluid at rest in a closed container, a pressure change in one part is transmitted
without loss to every portion of the fluid and to the walls of the container. The five
components that make up a hydraulic system. Selector valve, hydraulic lines, actuating units,
reservoir, and pump. Pressure is equal to the force divided by the area on which it acts.

Example:
1. Figure shows a hydraulic press with the larger piston of diameter 35 cm a height of 1.5
m relative to the smaller piston of diameter 10 cm. The mass on the smaller pistor is 20
kg. what is the force exerted on the load by the larger piston? The density of oil in the
press is 750 kg/m3. Use g=9.80 m/s2.

Solution;
P1=F1/A1 = mg/A1 = 20x9.8/ π (.12)/4 = 24,955.50 N/m2
P2 = F2/A2 = F2/ π(.352)/4 = 10.39 F2 N/m2
As the fluid is still, thus pressure at point A must be equal at
point B: hence;
PA = P1 + ¥h = F1/A1 + pgh = 24,955.50 + 750(9.8)h –eq.1
P B= P2 + ¥ (1.5+h) = F2/A2 + pg(1.5+h)
= 10.39F2 + 750(9.8)(1.5+h)
Then; PA=PB ; F2 = 1340.76 N