🔍 Key Concepts

• Basic behavior of hydraulic systems – how fluid transmits force and motion • Effect of compressible vs. incompressible media – oil vs. trapped air • Common symptoms of hydraulic faults – what you would actually observe at the actuator

💭 Think About

• Think about what happens if part of the fluid column can compress before moving the piston – how would that affect smoothness of motion? • Which options describe a condition at the actuator itself, and which describe conditions more related to the pump? • If air makes the system more “springy,” would you expect motion to become more steady and responsive, or less predictable?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which choice directly describes a mechanical symptom at the actuator rather than at the pump or in system pressure alone. • Ask yourself which effect would most likely result from a spongy, compressible fluid column. • Eliminate any option that suggests the problem makes the system uniformly better (e.g., consistently faster or smoother) rather than irregular or unstable.