Architecture Practice Exam 2026 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The basic components of a hydraulic jack are indeed the pump and the cylinder. The pump is essential because it generates hydraulic pressure by creating a flow of fluid, which in turn pushes the piston within the cylinder. The cylinder acts as the main working chamber where the lifting action occurs. When the fluid from the pump enters the cylinder, it exerts pressure on the piston, which subsequently raises the load attached to it.

This system relies on Pascal's principle, which states that when pressure is applied to a fluid in a closed system, the pressure change is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid. This principle is what allows hydraulic jacks to lift heavy loads with relatively little effort.

The other components mentioned in the various options, such as a hose or a reservoir, might be part of a more complex hydraulic system but are not the core components defining how a hydraulic jack operates. For example, while a hydraulic jack might use hoses to connect the pump to the cylinder or have a reservoir to hold hydraulic fluid, these elements are auxiliary and not fundamental to the basic operation of lifting. The systematic interplay between the pump and the cylinder is what drives the function of the hydraulic jack, making them indispensable in its design and operation.