A cutaway engine cylinder shows the piston, valves and spark through the four strokes of the cycle. Students change engine speed and spark advance and watch the stroke, cycle angle, cylinder pressure and valve states update.
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Hydraulic Press
About this simulation
This simulation shows two pistons of different sizes joined by an oil-filled chamber, with colour showing the fluid pressure from low to high. Sliders set the push force on the small piston, the area ratio of the two pistons and the mass of the load. Readouts give the fluid pressure, the output force, the distances moved by each piston and the work in and out. Students see Pascal principle at work: a small force becomes a large one, but the big piston moves less. It fits well into a lesson on pressure and fluids.
What students can explore
- Raise Push force F1 and watch Fluid pressure and Output force F2 climb together.
- Increase Area ratio A2/A1 and compare the Output force with the Distances d1 / d2.
- Set Load mass high, then raise the ratio until the big piston can lift it.
- Check that Work in = work out stays true when you change the ratio.
- Watch the fluid colour change from blue toward red as pressure increases.
Learning objectives
- 1State Pascal principle for a fluid in a closed container.
- 2Calculate output force from input force and the ratio of piston areas.
- 3Explain why the large piston moves a shorter distance than the small one.
- 4Show that the work in equals the work out for an ideal hydraulic system.
Questions teachers ask
Is it free to use?
Yes. It is free to use in any modern browser, including classroom whiteboards and tablets. No sign-up is needed.
What is Pascal principle?
Pascal principle says that pressure applied to a confined fluid is passed on equally in every direction. That is why the same pressure acts on both pistons, so a larger piston area gives a larger force.
If the force is multiplied, where does the extra energy come from?
It does not come from anywhere. The large piston moves a smaller distance in proportion to its larger area, so force times distance, the work, is the same on both sides.
How do I use the hydraulic press simulation?
Drag Push force F1, Area ratio A2/A1 and Load mass. Read the pressure, output force, distances and work boxes to see whether the press can lift the load.
Embed this simulation
Drop it into your LMS, blog, or class site — free.
<iframe src="https://kiwibee.io/en/simulations/hydraulic-press-3d-simulation/embed" title="Hydraulic Press | KiwiBee" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen style="width:100%;height:min(70vh,620px);min-height:420px;border:0;border-radius:16px"></iframe>Continue exploring
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