SOLUTION: For a hydraulic press the mechanical advantage is the ratio of the large piston area to the small piston area. Find the mechanical advantage if the pistons have diameters of 3.10 c

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Question 657342: For a hydraulic press the mechanical advantage is the ratio of the large piston area to the small piston area. Find the mechanical advantage if the pistons have diameters of 3.10 cm and 2.25 cm.
Could you please help me figure this out i am not sure what formula to even use.
Thank you
Answer by colliefan(242) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If the advantage = the ratio, you need the quotient of the two piston AREAS. Pistons are generally circular, though that is not stated. If so calculate the areas from their diameters since:

A=pi%2Ar%5E2
Remember that r or the radius is half the diameter.
First piston:
A=pi%2A1.55%5E2
A=pi%2A1.55%5E2
A=3.14159%2A2.403
A=7.55+cm%5E2
Second piston:
A=pi%2A1.125%5E2
A=pi%2A1.125%5E2
A=3.14159%2A1.27
A=3.98+cm%5E2

Mech advantage = The ratio of the piston areas
Advantage = 7.55 cm^2/3.98 cm^2
Advantage = 1.90