To increase output force without changing pressure, you should

• A. Increase system speed
• B. Increase piston diameter (area)
• C. Increase lubricant viscosity
• D. Increase reservoir pressure

Answer: (B)

In a hydraulic system, output force comes from multiplying pressure by piston area: F = P × A. If the pressure is kept constant, increasing the piston area increases the force produced. That’s why choosing a larger-diameter piston (larger area) yields more output force without changing the pressure.

For example, at the same pressure, a piston with twice the area gives twice the force. The other options won’t raise the static output force under the same pressure: higher system speed changes how fast the load moves but not the force at a fixed pressure; thicker lubricant mainly affects friction and losses rather than the force produced; and increasing reservoir pressure would change the pressure itself, not keep it constant.