Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

need some help! how do i make a funtioning model of a boat lock?

[quote="sophia"]need some help! how do i make a funtioning model of a boat lock?[/quote] :roll:

In order to make a model of how the locks associated with canals, you first need to know how a lock works. I suggest using a search engine or an encyclopedia to discover how locks work. You can then apply that knowledge to make a model.

thx - i understand the functions of the canal - still very stumped on materials and design to use in model? any suggestions?

sophia wrote:thx - i understand the functions of the canal - still very stumped on materials and design to use in model? any suggestions?

Sophia, a lot might depend on the size you want to model... Since the primary function of a canal lock is to allow a boat to move from one water level to another, how about something that fits on a table top?

Thinking of a table top operation... you will need first some way to have water in a confined area to simulate the canal (a big long rectangular tub? ) not too tall and not too shallow would be good. Next, you will need some way of containing water in three places (wood? plastic? something solid). The goal is to be able to put the water into three contained "regions": 1) the higher part, 2) the part that changes, and 3) the lower part.

Next, think about how you might have the water go in and out of the middle part. Tubing? a cup or scoop?

This site has a particularly good animation of the way a lock works:
http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/natur ... l-lock.asp

You could make a very simple manual lock system with simple gates and tubing or a cup arrangement to pump the water in and out of the middle. Or you could use a small bike pump maybe? I'm not sure.

Get any ideas from this and the site animation?

Keep us posted!

Now, before going much further, it would help to know more what you are trying to accomplish... a simple working lock? a new idea for moving the water? or maybe a new kind of lock gate? for what purpose would the lock be used? things like that.

Thoughts?

Well....you can do pretty well just with a sink to get the idea.

Put something that floats in the sink, and plug it.

Fill the sink with water. The "boat" will rise.

Pull the plug. The "boat" will fall.

That's all locks are. "boat-sized" sinks where we can control the water level by emptying it out or adding more water...the difference is you are trying to match the water level of two nearby lakes/rivers/etc, starting at the height of one, ending at the height of the other.

To model it, you want a waterproof container with three partitions and a way of adding and removing water (a bucket/cup/etc can be used), and gates "boat-sized" between them. The tricky part is if you really want to model a lock, you need waterproof, moving parts for the gates. That isn't easy....if they leak at all, you'll end up with a container that is full of water all the same level.