HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS AND FLUID PRINCIPLES

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on hydraulic systems, fluid principles, buoyancy, and related equations.

Pascal's Principle

Any change in pressure in an enclosed fluid at rest is transmitted equally to all parts of the fluid; enables hydraulic devices to multiply force (F2 = F1 × (A2 / A1)).

Hydraulic System

A system that uses incompressible fluid to transmit force and multiply input force, used in lifts, brakes, and jacks.

Pressure (P)

Force per unit area; scalar; unit Pa (N/m^2); can be exerted by solids, liquids, and gases.

P = F / A

Formula for calculating pressure: pressure equals force divided by area.

Force (F)

A push or pull on an object; measured in Newtons (N).

Area (A)

Cross-sectional area over which the force acts; measured in square meters (m^2).

Buoyancy (Upthrust)

Upward force exerted by a fluid on an immersed object; causes objects to float or feel lighter.

Archimedes Principle

The buoyant force on a submerged object equals the weight of the fluid displaced.

FB = ρf g Vf

Buoyant force equals density of the fluid times gravity times the volume of fluid displaced.

Density (ρ_f)

Mass per unit volume of a substance; in buoyancy, ρ_f denotes the fluid density.

Volume (V_f)

Volume of fluid displaced by the object; used to calculate buoyant force.

Gravity (g)

Acceleration due to gravity, approximately 9.81 m/s^2.

Displaced Fluid

Fluid moved aside by a submerged object; its weight equals the buoyant force.

Input/Output Forces (F1, F2)

F1 is the input force on the hydraulic system; F2 is the output force.

Input/Output Areas (A1, A2)

A1 is the input piston area; A2 is the output piston area in a hydraulic system.

F2 = F1 × (A2 / A1)

Output force equals input force multiplied by the ratio of the output area to the input area.

Hydraulic Lift

A device that uses fluid pressure to multiply force and lift heavy loads.

Hydraulic Disc Brake System

A braking system that transmits pedal force through brake fluid pressure to calipers and pads.

Brake Master Cylinder

Component that generates brake fluid pressure when the brake pedal is pressed.

Pa (Pascal)

Unit of pressure; 1 Pa = 1 N/m^2.

Fluid

Substance that flows; liquids and gases; transmits pressure in hydraulic systems.