What principle does a hydraulic cylinder operate on?

A hydraulic cylinder operates on Pascal's principle, which states that when pressure is applied to a confined fluid, the pressure change occurs throughout the entire fluid without loss. This principle is fundamental to how hydraulic systems function, allowing force to be transmitted efficiently through the fluid.

In a hydraulic cylinder, when a force is applied to the fluid in one chamber, it creates equal pressure in all directions, enabling the piston to move. This allows for a multiplication of force, making hydraulic cylinders particularly effective for lifting and moving heavy loads.

The other principles mentioned, such as Bernoulli's principle, which deals with fluid dynamics and the conservation of energy in a moving fluid, Archimedes’ principle, which relates to buoyancy and fluid displacement, and Newton's third law, which concerns action and reaction forces, do not directly describe the operational mechanism of a hydraulic cylinder. Therefore, Pascal's principle is the correct answer when describing how hydraulic cylinders utilize pressurized fluid to create motion.