POE Unit 3 • Lesson 3.12

Pressure, Force, and Pascal’s Law

Use a simple hydraulic model or calculation practice to connect pressure, force, and piston area.

Lesson Snapshot

Student Objective

I can use pressure and area relationships to explain force multiplication in fluid systems.

Main Activity

Use a simple hydraulic model or calculation practice to connect pressure, force, and piston area.

Deliverable

Fluid power calculation set

Tools / Materials

Notebook, calculator, syringes/tubing if available, ruler/calipers

1ProblemUnderstand the challenge and why it matters.

Fluid systems can multiply force because pressure is transmitted through confined fluid. Changing piston area changes the output force available for a task.

2ConceptLearn the engineering idea or skill.

Pressure is force divided by area. In a confined fluid, pressure acts throughout the system, allowing an input force to produce a different output force when areas are different.

3ApplyUse the skill in a guided task.

Solve guided fluid-power scenarios and connect each calculation to a possible aerospace actuator.

4DocumentRecord your evidence and decisions.

Show formulas, substitutions, units, and final answers for pressure, force, area, or mechanical advantage.

5ReviewCheck quality and identify your next step.

Your calculations should include units and a sentence interpreting what the answer means.

Lesson Resources

Use these files and shared website resources when they support today’s work.

Engineering Graph Paper

Use for flowcharts, system diagrams, calculations, mission layouts, and design sketches.

Open Resource

Measurement Data Sheet

Use for rover trials, actuator tests, timing data, accuracy measurements, and observations.

Open Resource

Engineering Resource Library

Templates, reference sheets, sketch paper, and course support files.

Open Resource