Two pistons are connected by a horizontal tube filled with an incompressible oil
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Mechanical Properties of Fluids · Mechanical Properties of Fluids
Problem
Two pistons are connected by a horizontal tube filled with an incompressible oil. The small piston of area A₁ is at ground level, while the large piston of area A₂ is positioned vertically above the small piston so that its bottom face is h metres higher.
(a) Derive an expression for the minimum upward force F₁ that must be applied on the small piston to support a load W placed on the large piston, taking into account the difference in level h between the pistons.
(b) Using your result, calculate the minimum F₁ needed to balance a 5.0 kN load when A₁ = 15 cm², A₂ = 600 cm², h = 0.50 m and the density of oil is 850 kg m⁻³.