Pressure in fluids and upthrust

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Question 12
Medium

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a hydraulic braking system in a high-performance car.

A schematic of a hydraulic braking system with a pedal force F_pedal on Piston A, transmitting pressure via hydraulic fluid to a much larger Piston B, which exerts a clamping force F_clamp on a brake disc.

The brake lines are completely filled with an incompressible hydraulic brake fluid.

When the driver presses the pedal, an input force, FpedalF_{\text{pedal}}Fpedal​, is applied to the master cylinder piston, AAA. This transmits pressure through the fluid, resulting in a clamping force, FclampF_{\text{clamp}}Fclamp​, exerted by the caliper piston, BBB, onto the brake disc.

The pressure transmitted through the fluid by piston A A\,A is equal to the pressure exerted by the fluid on piston BBB.

Explain, in terms of pressure and area, why the clamping force FclampF_{\text{clamp}}Fclamp​ is significantly larger than the pedal force FpedalF_{\text{pedal}}Fpedal​.

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Pressure in fluids and upthrust Questions

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