How Do Canal Locks Raise and Lower Boats?
Quick Answer
A canal lock is a chamber with gates at each end; filling or emptying it with water lifts or lowers a boat between different water levels.
The Full Story
A boat enters the lock chamber and the gates behind it close. To go up, sluices or valves let water flow in from the higher level until the chamber matches it; to go down, water is let out to the lower level. Once the levels are equal, the gates ahead can be opened easily because water pressure is balanced. The process uses only gravity, with no pumps needed in a traditional lock. Locks allow canals to climb hills and let large ships pass between seas and lakes at different heights.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The simple water trick that lets ships climb mountains."
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