How a Giant Lift Harnesses Gravity to Move Boats

You ’re credibly aware that normal elevators make use of counterweights , which reduce the amount of energy it lead to move citizenry up and down skyscrapers with slightly frightening upper . But when it come to moving hundred - gross ton boats , a little more precision is required .

Tom Scotthas an first-class telecasting explain the canonical physics behind theFalkirk Wheel , a rotating gravy boat lift in not - so - sunny Scotland . It enable boat to travel between two canal , one of which run 80 feet higher than the other .

To do that , it has to raise entire channel boats — themselves often 60 feet longsighted . The design apply two ‘ cassions ’ — water - satiate pods that the boats seat in — on either remainder of an subdivision , centered around a main wheel . The cassions counteract each other perfectly : they are sate with 500 tonnes of pee , and when a boat enter , it displaces the same amount of piddle as it weighs ( thanks , Archimedes ) . So , both arms are always utterly balanced , which drastically reduces the amount of energy it takes to lift a boat through the air .