In a hydraulic system, if the supply pressure remains constant but the piston area is increased, what happens to the force exerted on the piston?

• A. Decreases
• B. Increases
• C. Remains the same
• D. Varies unpredictably

Answer: (B)

In hydraulic systems, the force on a piston is the product of the fluid pressure and the piston’s area (F = P × A). If the supply pressure stays constant and you increase the piston area, the force increases proportionally. So doubling the area at the same pressure doubles the force. The same pressure acting over a larger surface means more total push.

If pressure remained constant but the area didn’t change, the force would stay the same; if pressure changed or the relation weren’t linear, it could vary differently. With constant pressure, the larger area directly yields more force.