What pneumatic component provides straight line motion?

The correct answer is a cylinder, which is a pneumatic component responsible for converting compressed air into linear motion. Cylinders work by using the pressure of the compressed air to move the piston inside. As the air enters one side of the cylinder, it pushes the piston in a specific direction, creating straight-line motion. This movement is essential in various applications and machinery, where precise and controlled linear actuation is required.

While pistons are critical components within cylinders that actually perform the work, they do not function independently to provide motion. Similarly, actuators can refer to various devices that convert energy (not exclusively pneumatic) into motion, but when specifying the type of motion being a straight line, the cylinder is the specific component responsible. Valves serve a different purpose within a pneumatic system by controlling the flow and direction of the air rather than providing motion themselves.