How does a canal lock lift a boat without lifting machinery?
A boat inside a lock rises when the water around it rises. By filling or emptying the enclosed chamber, a conventional lock brings the boat to the level of the next stretch of canal. The gates contain the water; they do not hoist the boat.
Questions you could explore
- Why must the chamber and adjoining water reach compatible levels?
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- Canal & River TrustHow does a canal lock work?
Canal & River Trust explains the chamber, gates, and changing water levels.
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