How Does a Water Wheel Turn?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How does a water wheel turn?

The Big Idea

Flowing water pushes against paddles or buckets on a big wheel and makes it turn! The turning wheel can do useful work, like grinding grain or sawing wood. People have used water wheels for over 2,000 years.

Push the Paddles

Step one: a push. Flowing water pushes against the paddles or buckets around the edge of a big wheel. The push makes the wheel turn, over and over, as long as the river keeps flowing.

Undershot Wheel

Step two: undershot. In an undershot wheel, the river flows under the wheel and pushes the paddles at the bottom. These wheels are simple to build and work well in fast, flat rivers.

Overshot Wheel

Step three: overshot. In an overshot wheel, water falls from above into buckets, and the weight of the water makes the wheel turn. This design is stronger, and the turning wheel drives a shaft and gears that do work, just like a bicycle chain passes along your pedaling.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at a water wheel! Flowing water arrives. Paddles or buckets catch it. The wheel turns. And gears pass the power along.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Water wheels have been used for over 2,000 years. They ground grain and sawed wood. They use water, not fuel. Stay back from moving wheels, with a grown-up.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like an engineer! Cut notches in a plastic cup or attach spoons to a cork. With a grown-up, hold it under a gentle trickle of water. Watch it spin! Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

A water wheel turns when flowing water pushes its paddles. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!