1001 Space Earth Nature History Human World Science and Technology Chemistry Materials Force and Energy Heat and Light Electricity and Magnetism Industry Machines Electronics and Computers Cars and Trucks Railways Ships Aircraft Fishing and Agriculture Undersea Exploration

Choose a Page:*How did people pump water in ancie...*How does a robot arm work?What is the simplest machine?What is a crawler-transporter used...How does a steam locomotive work?Which were the first machines not ...How did early gramophones work?Who invented the motorcar engine?When was the first bicycle made?What are lasers used for?Who invented the jet aeroplane?How do a bicycle's gears work?Is it possible to make a perpetual...How does a roller coaster work? How did people pump water in ancient times? An Archimedes' screw is a simple kind of pump used for raising water. The Archimedes' screw is a pumping device named after the ancient Greek scientist Archimedes (282-212 BC). It is thought that he invented it to pump water from ships. The pump consists of a screw fitted inside a sloping cylinder. The lower end of the cylinder is placed in a stream, and the screw rotated by a handle. This 'screws' the water up the cylinder through the screw's thread, until it reaches the top.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: Science and Technology Chapter: Machines