To calculate the force exerted by a hydraulic cylinder, what two elements must be multiplied?

The force exerted by a hydraulic cylinder can be determined using the fundamental principle of hydraulics, which states that pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid. In this case, the force produced by the cylinder is a result of the fluid pressure acting over the area of the piston.

When you multiply the piston area by the fluid pressure, you are essentially calculating the total force exerted by the fluid on the piston. The piston area is a key factor because it directly influences the amount of force that can be applied — a larger area will result in greater force for the same amount of pressure. Fluid pressure is the driving factor, as it determines how much force is imparted per unit area on the piston.

Other options include elements that, while important in hydraulic systems, do not directly provide a calculation for force in this context. For example, the piston diameter and fluid viscosity or piston length and external pressure do not relate directly to the fundamental relationship between force, area, and pressure that is core to hydraulic operation. Similarly, fluid volume and piston speed pertain more to the dynamics of fluid movement rather than direct force calculations. Thus, the correct formulation for calculating the force exerted by a hydraulic cylinder is indeed the product of