What is the effect of increasing flow rate on the piston speed?

Increasing the flow rate directly impacts the speed of the piston in a hydraulic or pneumatic system. When the flow rate increases, more fluid is delivered to the piston in the same amount of time. This additional volume of fluid pushes the piston further and more quickly through its stroke, resulting in an increase in piston speed.

In practical terms, if a hydraulic pump or air compressor is supplying fluid at a higher flow rate, the piston can travel faster, completing its cycle more quickly. Thus, an increase in flow rate is directly proportional to the increase in piston speed, which is why the correct answer is that the piston speed increases. The dynamics of fluid mechanics dictate that more fluid volume leads to faster movement within the confines of the system.