Falkirk Wheel

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/falkirk-wheel

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How tall is Falkirk Wheel?24 meters (79 feet)
2. What is the location?Tamfourhill, Falkirk, Scotland
3. What is the connected waterways?Forth and Clyde Canal and Union Canal
4. How does the Falkirk Wheel lift boats?Two big arms hold water tanks called caissons. When a boat enters a caisson, the wheel turns, and the other caisson goes down while the first goes up, using the weight of the descending one to help lift the boat.
5. Why was the Falkirk Wheel built instead of a regular lock?Engineers wanted a modern landmark that would be a tourist attraction and also solve the problem of connecting the canals, so they chose a rotating lift rather than many locks.

Hydraulic Engineering: The branch of engineering dealing with the motion and control of liquids.
Caisson: A watertight retaining structure used in construction or for moving boats.
Counterbalancing: Using opposing weights to achieve equilibrium and reduce the effort needed for movement.
Urban Regeneration: The process of improving derelict or run-down urban areas.