A hydraulic cylinder has a piston diameter of 4 inches. If system pressure is 1000 psi, what is the axial force on the piston?

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Multiple Choice

A hydraulic cylinder has a piston diameter of 4 inches. If system pressure is 1000 psi, what is the axial force on the piston?

Explanation:
Key idea: the axial force produced by a hydraulic cylinder is the pressure times the piston’s area. The piston face is a circle with diameter 4 inches, so the radius is 2 inches. Its area is πr^2 = π(2)^2 = 4π square inches, which is about 12.566 in^2. Multiplying by the system pressure gives F = P × A = 1000 psi × 12.566 in^2 ≈ 12,566 pounds-force. The exact value is 4000π lbf, which is about 12,566 lbf.

Key idea: the axial force produced by a hydraulic cylinder is the pressure times the piston’s area. The piston face is a circle with diameter 4 inches, so the radius is 2 inches. Its area is πr^2 = π(2)^2 = 4π square inches, which is about 12.566 in^2. Multiplying by the system pressure gives F = P × A = 1000 psi × 12.566 in^2 ≈ 12,566 pounds-force. The exact value is 4000π lbf, which is about 12,566 lbf.

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