Hydraulics applies fluid mechanics, especially the behavior of liquids, to conveying flow and transmitting forces. Examples include water channels, pipe networks, pumps and hydraulic actuators.
For an ideal hydraulic press with connected pistons at equal height, a common pressure gives . A larger output area therefore produces a larger force, while incompressible flow requires a smaller output displacement. The ideal press exchanges force for distance; viscosity, leakage and pressure losses reduce the available mechanical power in a real system.
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Hydraulics is a branch of science and engineering that deals with the mechanical properties and behavior of fluids, primarily liquids. It encompasses the study, design, and applications of systems that utilize fluid under pressure to perform work. The core principle of hydraulics is Pascal's law, which states that an increase in pressure applied to an incompressible fluid is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid in all directions.