The cubic inch displacement of a cylinder is determined by which two dimensions?

The correct answer focuses on the foundational principles of cylindrical volume calculation. In a cylinder, the volume, or cubic inch displacement, is calculated using the formula for the volume of a cylinder, which incorporates the area of the circular base (determined by the piston diameter) and the height of the cylinder (represented by the stroke length).

Specifically, the piston diameter reflects the radius of the circular base when calculating the area, and the stroke length indicates how far the piston moves. By multiplying the area of the piston face by the stroke length, one determines the displacement, which is fundamental in understanding engine performance metrics in marine applications.

The other options do not correlate with the necessary geometric parameters for calculating cubic inch displacement. For instance, pressure and temperature may influence engine performance but do not provide a direct method for calculating the physical volume displacement in a cylinder. Similarly, RPM (rotations per minute) relates to the speed of engine operation rather than the physical dimensions needed for volume calculations.