In a 3,000 psi system, if a double-acting actuating cylinder has a piston surface area of three square inches, what force can it produce when retracting?

To determine the force produced by a double-acting actuating cylinder when retracting, you can use the formula that relates pressure, area, and force. The force exerted by a hydraulic cylinder can be calculated using the equation:

[

\text{Force} = \text{Pressure} \times \text{Area}

]

In this scenario, the pressure of the system is 3,000 psi and the piston surface area is three square inches. By substituting these values into the equation, you get:

[

\text{Force} = 3,000 , \text{psi} \times 3 , \text{in}^2 = 9,000 , \text{pounds}

]

This calculation shows that when the hydraulic system is applying pressure to the piston during the retraction process, it generates a force of 9,000 pounds.

This value represents the maximum force the cylinder can exert under the specified conditions, reflecting the direct relationship between the hydraulic pressure applied and the area over which it is acting. Thus, the correct answer is 9,000 pounds.