Which pair of quantities are multiplied to calculate theoretical forces in a pneumatic cylinder?

• A. Pressure and Area
• B. Mass and Acceleration
• C. Velocity and Time
• D. Temperature and Pressure

Answer: (A)

Pneumatic force comes from pushing air pressure across the piston’s face. The theoretical force is found by multiplying the air pressure by the piston area: F = P × A. This means you convert the pressure (like psi or Pa) into a force by applying it to the cross-sectional area of the piston, so using only these two quantities gives the push the cylinder can exert. For example, 60 psi acting on a piston with a 2 square inch area yields about 120 pounds of force (60 × 2 = 120 lbf). This is a theoretical value, assuming the entire pressure acts on the piston without losses from friction, seals, or the rod taking away part of the area on the rod side. The other ideas don’t directly give the cylinder’s pushing force: mass times acceleration relates to force on a moving body, velocity times time relates to distance, and temperature times pressure isn’t a direct way to compute mechanical force without involving area.