Hydraulic Bridges
What is hydraulics?
Hydraulics is a system that uses liquids, usually oil or water, to transmit force and do work. It's all about controlling the flow of fluids through pipes, tubes, and valves to create powerful movements.
Imagine you have a syringe filled with water. When you push down on the plunger, the water inside gets pushed out the other end, creating a force that can be used to move things. In a similar way, hydraulics use pumps to move fluids through pipes and hoses to create force that can be used to lift heavy objects, move machinery, or power other kinds of equipment.
One of the most common examples of hydraulics is the car's braking system. When you press down on the brake pedal, you're actually activating a small pump that sends brake fluid through a series of tubes and hoses to apply pressure on the brakes, causing the car to stop. Other examples of hydraulic systems include cranes, excavators, and hydraulic presses used in manufacturing.
Overall, hydraulics is an important technology that makes it possible for us to move heavy objects, build tall buildings, and power many machines that we use in our daily lives.
OpenAI. (2023). "How would you explain hydraulics to an 8 year old?" [Chat log]. Retrieved from https://www.openai.com
Imagine you have a syringe filled with water. When you push down on the plunger, the water inside gets pushed out the other end, creating a force that can be used to move things. In a similar way, hydraulics use pumps to move fluids through pipes and hoses to create force that can be used to lift heavy objects, move machinery, or power other kinds of equipment.
One of the most common examples of hydraulics is the car's braking system. When you press down on the brake pedal, you're actually activating a small pump that sends brake fluid through a series of tubes and hoses to apply pressure on the brakes, causing the car to stop. Other examples of hydraulic systems include cranes, excavators, and hydraulic presses used in manufacturing.
Overall, hydraulics is an important technology that makes it possible for us to move heavy objects, build tall buildings, and power many machines that we use in our daily lives.
OpenAI. (2023). "How would you explain hydraulics to an 8 year old?" [Chat log]. Retrieved from https://www.openai.com
Our task:
Goal: To create a hydraulic bridge, a moveable bridge which lifts to let maritime traffic through, using the provided materials (popsicle sticks, syringes, tubing).
Examples: