Let f1 be the force applied on the plunger and.Simple Experiment Using Pascal’s Law Practical Example Finally, the force applied manually (input to the system) on the plunger is converted into the desired movement on the ram which is the output of the system. The force which is moving the ram will depend upon the diameter of the ram and the pressure developed in the hydraulic fluid due to the force applied manually on the plunger. The same pressure will now act on the ram that is in contact with the hydraulic fluid.This will exert a force on the ram and now the ram moves in the desired direction corresponding to the force applied. The pressure that has been created inside the cylinder will act equally in all directions as stated by pascal’s law.

Since the hydraulic fluid or oil cannot be compressed inside the cylinder, pressure will build up inside the cylinder which depends upon the force applied and the diameter of the plunger. It has been seen that the movement of the plunger in the small cylinder due to the small force applied displaces the hydraulic fluid in it. This pressure is transmitted equally in all directions and acts on the large diameter ram to move it. When a small force is applied on a plunger (in the case of a hydraulic steering gear, this is located in the navigation bridge of a ship and force can be applied by rotating the steering wheel either clockwise or counterclockwise - see the sketch below) in a downward direction, a pressure is produced on the liquid in contact with the plunger. The cylinders and pipe contain liquid or hydraulic oil through which the pressure can be transmitted. The large diameter cylinder and small diameter cylinder are connected by a pipe of suitable thickness in order to withstand the pressure created inside. Another cylinder is of small diameter and contains a plunger that can move in it. One cylinder is of large diameter and contains a ram in it that can be moved up and down. This simple fluid mechanics experiment is based on the principle of Pascal’s law.Ĭonsider a fluid system consisting of two cylinders of different diameters. The fluid mechanics experiment concept described below is used in the hydraulic steering gear system employed onboard ship for steering the ship either towards starboad or port. This article gives you the concept of a simple fluid mechanics experiment and its calculation as is used in the marine field and other fields involving hydraulics.

Force of ram pressure