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Conservation of Energy in Hydraulics
publish date: 2026/05/18 21:47:7.134473 UTC
volume_mute
A closed hydraulic jack multiplies the input force by a factor of exactly 10. Based on the conservation of energy, how does the displacement distance of the output piston compare to the distance the input piston is pushed down?
Correct Answer
The output piston moves exactly 1/10th of the distance of the input piston.
Explanation
A hydraulic system multiplies force but cannot multiply energy or work. Because \(\text{Work} = \text{Force} \times \text{Distance}\), gaining 10 times the force means the output piston moves over only \(\frac{1}{10}\) of the input displacement distance.
Reference
Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide