Can you explain pneumatics simply to me?

Answer 1

pneumatic is the process of moving machines through air compression and decompression

Answer 2

What every else wrote seems to be correct however, I find it best to answer with an example.

Did you ever shoot a wad of paper through a straw? A force of air pushes the paper down the straw and out the other end. This is similar to pneumatics in that air pressure pushes a piston down a cylinder.

The difference is that the piston would not fly out the other end as the paper flies out the end of the straw. Instead, it is connected to some rod or other mechanical linkage to push open a valve or some other mechanical action. The force that can be developed in the "push rod" depends on the air pressure behind it and the area of the cylinder. The larger the pressure and area, the larger the available force.

Answer 3

Definitions of Pneumatics on the Web:

engineering science pertaining to gaseous pressure and flow.
www.oilanalysis.com/dictionary/default.asp

the branch of mechanics that deals with the mechanical properties of gases
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Pneumatics, from the Greek πνευματικός (pneumatikos, coming from the wind) is the use of pressurized gases to do work in science and technology.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumatics

Answer 4

being able to have work performed for you by the compression of air. It can be operating a air tool, moving a flight control surface on an Airbus, oil over air lift in autoshop powering many things, as well as creating a vacuum source from compressed air. It can be a sealed or open system.

Usually cheaper than running electric tools. I work in aviation, and we use as many air tools as possible. We use pneumatcis to inflate and deflate our leading edge de-ice boots on our wings. 15 psi to inflate, and 20 psi vacuum to hold down on the wing.