What principle do hydraulic systems operate on?

Hydraulic systems operate on Pascal's principle, which states that when pressure is applied to a confined fluid, that pressure is transmitted undiminished in all directions throughout the fluid. This principle is fundamental to the operation of hydraulic systems, enabling them to amplify force.

In practical terms, this means that a small force applied at one point in a hydraulic system can produce a much larger force at another point, due to the incompressibility of the fluid and the way pressure is distributed within the system. For instance, in hydraulic lifts and brakes, this principle allows a small movement of fluid to result in a larger movement of a piston or braking component, facilitating heavy lifting and effective stopping with minimal effort.

Other principles mentioned, such as Archimedes' principle, Bernoulli's principle, and Newton's first law, pertain to different aspects of fluid dynamics and mechanics, but they do not primarily govern the functioning of hydraulic systems. Archimedes' principle deals with buoyancy, Bernoulli's principle relates to fluid flow and pressure reduction, and Newton's first law focuses on inertia and motion without direct relevance to the pressure transmission characteristic of hydraulic applications.