A garage uses a hydraulic lift to raise cars for servicing
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Mechanical Properties of Fluids · Mechanical Properties of Fluids
Problem
A garage uses a hydraulic lift to raise cars for servicing. The small piston on which the mechanic pushes has area A1 and the large piston that supports the car has area A2.
(a) When the car is being lifted slowly upward at constant speed, the small piston moves down through a distance d1 while the large piston rises through a distance d2. Derive the relation between d1 and d2 in terms of A1 and A2.
(b) Show that the work done by the mechanic on the small piston is equal to the gravitational potential energy gained by the car, assuming the fluid is incompressible and frictional losses are negligible.
(c) Using the result obtained in part (b), explain clearly why there is no violation of the law of conservation of energy even though the lift multiplies the applied force.