- #1
fando1234
- 11
- 0
Hey guys, I'm a super amateur at physics, but I occasionally like to calculate random problems that pop into my head.
Today I was thinking about pascal and hydraulics, and wondered if I could devise a (hypothetical) hydraulic system that would allow my weight to lift an elephant.
I want to see if this is correct... or way off...
I figured I could use Pascals idea that the ratio of Area (in) / Area (out) would be equal to Force (in) / Force (out)Total back of a napkin calculation but... I researched an elephants weight to be 6000kg (or 60,000 N) - African elephant of course...
My weights about 80 kg (800 N)
The rough area of the platform an elephant could fit on is 3m x 2m (6m^2)
Feeding this into my equation I got that I would need my side of the piston to be about 0.08 m^2 for my weight to equal the elephants.
Could this be achieved by having a platform I stand on (that is the same area as my feet together) which is then attached to a 0.08m^2 piston... or does it not work that way... Also, if anyone can explain why this whole thing works on a deeper level - like conservation laws and all that, I'd be really curious, as I find this whole system really counter intuitive.
Thanks guys!
Today I was thinking about pascal and hydraulics, and wondered if I could devise a (hypothetical) hydraulic system that would allow my weight to lift an elephant.
I want to see if this is correct... or way off...
I figured I could use Pascals idea that the ratio of Area (in) / Area (out) would be equal to Force (in) / Force (out)Total back of a napkin calculation but... I researched an elephants weight to be 6000kg (or 60,000 N) - African elephant of course...
My weights about 80 kg (800 N)
The rough area of the platform an elephant could fit on is 3m x 2m (6m^2)
Feeding this into my equation I got that I would need my side of the piston to be about 0.08 m^2 for my weight to equal the elephants.
Could this be achieved by having a platform I stand on (that is the same area as my feet together) which is then attached to a 0.08m^2 piston... or does it not work that way... Also, if anyone can explain why this whole thing works on a deeper level - like conservation laws and all that, I'd be really curious, as I find this whole system really counter intuitive.
Thanks guys!