HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC

SYSTEMS
Hydraulic and Pneumatic machines function differently to
simple machines like levers, pulleys and gears.
Do you still remember what levers, pulleys and gears are used
for?
What are hydraulic and pneumatic
machines used for?

They are used to produce powerful forces that can to

do heavy jobs such as lifting cars, digging big holes
and compressing very large objects.
They can produce an increased mechanical
advantage.

NOTE: HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC

MACHINES ALSO NEED AN INPUT
FORCE(effort), WHICH TRAVELS A CERTAIN
DISTANCE TO PRODUCE AN OUTFORCE.(lifting
a heavy load)
A pneumatic system makes use of
compressed air or gas to produce an
output.
A hydraulic system makes use of liquids
such as oil and water to produce an
output.
Important parts of pneumatic and
hydraulic systems
Cylinders- tubes to suck in the air or
liquid
Pistons- inside tube to push the air/liquid
Valves- stop the air from flowing out.
 Activity 1:
1.1) List 5 machines that
are pneumatic systems
1.2) List 5 machines that
are hydraulic systems
Here are some pictures to help you.
 Machines that use hydraulics.

to lift heavy loads and dig big holes!!!!!

Pneumatic systems and hydraulic systems work
on two basic concepts:
1. Force - a push/pull which changes
how fast (velocity) the object
moves
2. Pressure - takes into account the
area over which the force is acting.
A force spread over a big area will
give a low pressure. The same
force spread over a small area will
give high pressure.
 HYDRAULICS

SYSTEMS THAT USE HYDRAULICS

TO FUNCTION.
 FIRST RULE OF HYDRAULICS
In a simple hydraulic system, when you exert a force on the
first piston, the force pushes the liquid along the
tube/container causing the second piston to also move.
This is the first law of hydraulics.

Therefore the liquid is used to transmit force over a

distance.
The first piston is known as the Master piston and the
second is know as the Slave piston.
 The master piston is the one that is pushed
first so it is the input piston.
The slave piston is the output piston because
it is moved by the force from the input piston.
 SECOND RULE OF HYDRAULICS
When the area of a slave piston is same is
the same as the area of master piston, the
value of the output force is the same as
the input force.
BUT
When the area of the slave piston is
larger than the area of the master piston,
the value of the output force is increased
and will be larger than the input force.
DIAGRAM OF SECOND RULE OF HYDRAULICS
 MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE OF HYDRAULIC
SYSTEMS
Remember mechanical advantage is the ability of a
system to make work easier for us.
The greater the number above 1, the greater the
mechanical advantage.
Formula 1:
Mechanical advantage = Load Effort
OR
The mechanical advantage of a hydraulic system can
also depend on the area of the pistons of the cylinders.
Formula 2:
Area of slave piston
Mechanical advantage =
Area of master piston
 Hydraulics : Activity 2
1. What is a hydraulic system?
2. List two examples of machines that use
hydraulics.
3. Draw a diagram to show the first rule of
hydraulics.
4. a) The 2nd rule of hydraulics says that a
mechanical advantage can be created in a
hydraulic system. Explain.
b) Draw a diagram to support your answer.
5. What is the formula used to calculate the
mechanical advantage of hydraulic systems.
6.a) A car lift system is used to lift a car of 2500
kg. An input force of 5000 N is applied to the
input piston. What is the mechanical advantage
of this car lift?
b) The same car lift is uses a 3000 N force to lift
another car. The mechanical advantage is 6.
What is the mass of the car in kg.
 CONTROL MECHANISMS IN HYDRAULIC
SYSTEMS
Control mechanisms in hydraulic systems allow
you to direct the flow of fluid to your
advantage, and they also make the hydraulic
system work properly.
VALVES are good control mechanisms in
hydraulic systems.
You can use a one-way valve to prevent the
output piston from dropping back to its original
position.
The valve stops the hydraulic fluid flowing back
by closing the passage in the cylinder.
Some hydraulic systems have reservoirs
that add more hydraulic fluid to the
system when needed.
RESERVOIRS a part of a hydraulic
machine where a liquid kept before it it is
used.
A reservoir is used in a JACK.
What is a JACK?
A jack is a device used to lift heavy
objects.
How does a jack work?
Pumping the handle of the jack causes
hydraulic fluid to move into the output piston
to lift the car. When you stop pumping, a valve
closes preventing the fluid flowing out from the
output piston chamber
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS
ADVANTAGES
The biggest advantage of hydraulic systems is
that you can create very large output forces.
Hydraulic cylinders can be made in any shape
which allows you to reach difficult places.
DISADVANTAGES
They are expensive to build because they must
be strong to withstand high forces
Keep hydraulic fluid clean so it does not clog up
the system.
 ACTIVITY 3 : CONTROLLING HYDRAULICS

1. Why do hydraulic systems need to have

control mechanisms?
2. Why do some hydraulic systems need a
reservoir?
3. How do control mechanisms work in a car
jack?
4. List advantages and disadvantages of
hydraulic systems.
 PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS

CALCULATING MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE OF

PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS.
 PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS
Pneumatic systems are found in machines and
tools that use COMPRESSED AIR.

Compressed air is air that has been forced into a

small space. When air is compressed, it has the
potential energy to expand again.

Therefore pneumatic systems use the potential

energy of compressed air to make machines and
tools work.
 ACTIVITY 4
1. LIST FIVE MACHINES THAT USE
PNEUMATICS TO DO WORK.
 PARTS OF PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS
Compressor : a compressor compresses
the air to the receiving cylinder.
Air lines or pipes: transfer the
compressed air to the receiving
cylinder.
Receiving cylinder: a receiving cylinder
uses the compressed air.
Valves: controls the flow of compressed
air
A jackhammer is a good example of a device that
uses a pneumatic system.
The receiving cylinder of a jackhammer uses
compressed air to force a piston downwards. A drill
bit is attached to this piston. The drill bit digs into
the ground or breaks up rocks.
 QUESTION
In your own words can you explain how a jack
hammer works?
 MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE and PRESSURE OF
PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS
In pneumatics the mechanical advantage is
gained if you increase the area of the base of the
output piston, then the force at which the piston
rises will also increase.

You can also work out the pressure that has been
exerted on the base of the output piston.
FORMULA
Pressure = Force Area
Units: N/m2
 ACTIVITY 5
1. How does a pneumatic system differ to a
hydraulic system?
2. What are the 4 four parts of every pneumatic
system?
3. Draw a diagram to show how the pneumatic
system in a jackhammer works.
4. What formula do you use to work out the
pressure in a pneumatic system.
a) The area of the base of a piston of a
jackhammer is 0,3 m2 . The force exerted on the
piston is 90N. What is the pressure exerted on
the base of the piston?