The force output of a cylinder when extending can be calculated by multiplying the pressure times the ____________.

The force output of a cylinder when extending is indeed determined by the pressure applied to the cylinder multiplied by the area over which this pressure acts. In the context of pneumatic cylinders, this area is specifically the piston area, which is the surface area of the piston that is in contact with the compressed air. The formula for calculating force in a pneumatic system is:

Force = Pressure x Piston Area

When air pressure is applied to the piston, it generates force that is used to perform work, such as moving an object or driving a mechanism. The larger the piston area, the greater the force that can be exerted for a given pressure, making it a critical factor in the design and application of pneumatic systems. Thus, understanding and calculating the piston area is essential for accurately predicting the performance of a pneumatic cylinder.