SAASTE Technology/Activities/Hydraulics and Pneumatics

Systems & Control

Grade 7

Hydraulics & Pneumatics
Syringes can be used to demonstrate movement and the basic principles of pneumatics and hydraulics.

Set up the experiment as illustrated of the drawing above by doing the following:


 * Connect two 10ml syringes with a 200 mm length of plastic tubing.
 * Pull the plunger of syringe A completely out and push the plunger of syringe B fully in.
 * Replace the plunger of syringe A and press slowly down.

Observe and write down what happens at syringe B Complete the system diagram below:

Repeat the demonstration, but this time fill the system with water.

Observe and write down what happens at syringe B

Syringe A is referred to as the MASTER cylinder and Syringe B as the SLAVE cylinder.

Complete the system diagram below:

When syringes are filled with air we are demonstrating pneumatics. True pneumatics use compressed air. When syringes are filled with water we are demonstrating hydraulics. True hydraulics usually uses oil as the fluid.


 * Which is the more effective?


 * Why do you think so?


 * Explain why in this case syringes A is the master and syringe B is the slave:

Author: Deon Kahn Editor: Osman Sadeck