How did Pascal’s principle help make hydraulic presses possible?

Pascal’s principle is fundamental to the operation of the hydraulic press. The principle states that a change in pressure applied to a fluid at rest in a closed container is transmitted without loss to every portion of the fluid and to the walls of the container.1

In a hydraulic press, this principle allows for the multiplication of force. When a small force is applied to a piston with a small surface area, it creates a specific pressure within the confined liquid. Because this pressure is transmitted equally throughout the system, it acts upon a second, larger piston. If the second piston has a significantly larger area than the first, the resulting force exerted by the second piston is proportionally greater.12

By utilizing a pump to force liquid into the cylinders, the hydraulic press effectively converts this pressure into a powerful compressive force, enabling industrial tasks that require immense strength, such as metal forming.234