Locks and Dams
Students are introduced to the structure, function and purpose of locks and dams, which involves an introduction to Pascal's law, water pressure and gravity.
Figure 1. A lock and dam system enables a large ship to move from a body of water at one level to another body of water at another level.Copyright US Army Corps of Engineers http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/navigation/default.asp?pageid=166
The design of lock and dam structures by civil and mechanical engineers has significantly improved river navigation and, consequently, riverside economies. These engineers must thoroughly understand the fundamental concepts of Pascal's law, water pressure and gravity in order to design functional and reliable systems.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain the basic operation of a lock and dam system.
- Know that lock and dam system are used to aid in river navigation.
- Know that engineers use Pascal's law when designing lock and dam systems.