What supports a hydraulic elevator?

The column of oil inside the jack is essential for the operation of a hydraulic elevator. In a hydraulic elevator system, the elevator car is lifted and lowered by the movement of hydraulic fluid (typically oil) within a cylinder or jack that contains a piston. When the hydraulic pump pushes the oil into the cylinder, it forces the piston upward, which in turn raises the elevator car.

This mechanism relies on Pascal's principle, which states that a change in pressure applied to an incompressible fluid is transmitted undiminished throughout the fluid. Therefore, the weight of the steel cylinder and any other components do not directly support the elevator; the supporting force comes from the hydraulic pressure generated by the oil column.

Other options, such as weights or counterweights, are characteristic of cable-driven elevators but are not relevant in the hydraulic system. The hydraulic pump, while crucial for moving the oil, does not provide support; it is the hydraulic fluid itself within the jack that effectively bears the weight and moves the elevator car.