ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)Mechanical Comprehension (MC)Easy

A hydraulic system in a car's brake lines transmits pressure. If a force of 200 N is applied to a piston with an area of 0.01 m², what pressure is exerted on the fluid?

  1. A20,000 Pa
  2. B200 Pa
  3. C2,000 Pa
  4. D200,000 Pa
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A. 20,000 Pa

Pressure (P) is defined as force (F) per unit area (A). The formula is P = F / A. Given F = 200 N and A = 0.01 m², P = 200 N / 0.01 m² = 20,000 Pascals (Pa).

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. Incorrect, likely a division error.
  • C. Incorrect, miscalculation.
  • D. Incorrect, likely multiplied instead of divided.

Pressure Definition

Pressure is the amount of force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed.

  • Formula: P = F / A.
  • Units: Pascals (Pa), where 1 Pa = 1 N/m².
  • Important in fluid mechanics and structural engineering.

Memory trick: Pressure is Force 'over' Area.

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