The differences in response characteristics when pulling vs. pushing on the dashpot piston

A dashpot piston includes a low friction graphite piston, a glass cylinder, a metal mount that houses a valve on one end and a rod attached to piston on the other end.

The rod is attached to a 400-gram weight falling by gravity inside the demonstrator.

In push damping the piston will compress air and build up enough pressure in order to resist the weight.

In pull damping, you are creating a partial vacuum. The advantage is that the pressure differential builds much quicker and the user gets damping right at the start of the stroke.