Hydraulic Press: Compare Piston Faces

Count equal squares to compare the areas of two faces.

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Area tells how much surface a face covers. Count equal-sized squares, not just the length of an edge. At the same liquid pressure, a larger face can receive a larger force. Use diagrams and calculations only; never build or operate a press for this activity.

Worked example

One model face covers 2 squares and the other covers 8 equal squares. Eight is four groups of two, so the larger face has four times the area.

A small model piston face covers two square units. A larger model face covers eight equal square units. Eight divided by two gives four times the area.

Would you believe it?

A hydraulic connection can bend. The enclosed liquid can transmit a pressure change along a curved route between pistons.

OpenStax: Pascal's principle

Question 1 How many squares cover the small model face? 8 2 4

Question 2 How many equal squares cover the large model face? 8 2 6

Question 3 How many groups of 2 fit into 8? 6 10 4

Question 4 At the same pressure, which face can receive more force? Area never matters The larger face The smaller face

Question 5 Which comparison is fair? Count equal-sized squares Use different-sized squares without checking Count the letters in the labels

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