Question

A hydraulic jack has an input cylinder diameter of 3.2 in and an output cylinder diameter of 9.2 in. an input force of 485 lb is observed to produce an output force of 2800 lb. Calculate the actual mechanical advantage of this jack (AMA).

Answer 1

ANSWER

5.77

EXPLANATION

Given:

• The diameter of the input cylinder, d₁ = 3.2 in

,

• The input force, F₁ = 485 lb

,

• The diameter of the output cylinder, d₂ = 9.2 in

,

• The output force, F₂ = 2800 lb

Find:

• The actual mechanical advantage, AMA

The mechanical advantage is given by,

$AMA=\frac{F_2}{F_1}$

Replace the known values and solve,

$AMA=\frac{2800\text{ }lb}{485\text{ }lb}=\frac{560}{97}\approx5.77$

Hence, the actual mechanical advantage of this jack is 5.77, rounded to the nearest hundredth.