Archimedes Principle Screw Model

Quick Answer: The Archimedes Principle Screw Model is a working model of the Archimedes screw, the ancient water-lifting device. The listing image shows a helical screw mounted at an angle with a hand crank, its lower end dipping into a water tray, so turning the crank carries water up the helix and out at the top.

How the Screw Lifts Water

An Archimedes screw is a helix inside a tube, or a helical tube, set at a slant with its lower end in water. Each turn scoops a pocket of water into the lowest part of the helix. As the screw rotates, that pocket stays at the bottom of its turn while the helix around it advances, so the water is carried step by step up the incline until it spills out of the upper end.

The product name can cause confusion. Archimedes’ principle describes the upthrust on a body in a fluid, while the Archimedes screw is a separate invention traditionally credited to the same Greek mathematician. The screw does not rely on buoyancy at all; it is a simple machine that turns rotary motion into lifting water, which makes the Archimedes screw model a good fit for lessons on machines, work and the history of technology.

The tilt of the screw matters. At a shallow angle each pocket holds more water but the lift per turn is small; if the screw is too steep, water spills back over each turn and delivery falls. If the mounting allows the angle to be changed, pupils can test this with a simple timing experiment. Angle adjustment and tray size should be confirmed when ordering.

Applications

• Simple machines and mechanical work lessons in primary and middle school
• History of science topics on Greek and other ancient engineering
• Discussing irrigation, drainage and modern screw pumps at treatment works
• Measuring how the water delivered per minute changes with cranking speed

Care & Handling

• Use clean water only; soil or sand can clog the helix and wear its edges.
• Drain the tray and turn the screw a few times after use so no water stays trapped in the turns.
• Turn the crank smoothly rather than forcing it, especially when the screw is full.
• Dry the model completely before storage to prevent mould or corrosion.

Specifications

Why Choose LabEquip

Primary teachers and science clubs choose this model because pupils can operate it themselves and watch water climb uphill. LabEquip offers it within the STEM kits range; for the buoyancy law that also bears Archimedes’ name, see the Archimedes Principle Kit. Contact us through the contact page for class sets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Archimedes screw the same as Archimedes’ principle?

No. Archimedes’ principle is about buoyancy: an object in a fluid feels an upward force equal to the weight of fluid displaced. The Archimedes screw is a water-lifting machine. Both are traditionally linked to Archimedes of Syracuse, but they explain quite different things.

Why does the water move up when the screw turns?

Water always settles at the lowest point inside each turn of the helix. As the screw rotates, the turns move upward along the axis, carrying their pockets of water with them. The water never flows uphill on its own; the rotating surfaces lift it.

Why must the lower end dip into the water?

The helix can only collect water where its opening passes below the surface. If the lower end sits too high, each turn scoops only air. Lowering the end or raising the water level lets every rotation take in a full pocket.

Does turning faster lift more water?

Up to a point, yes, because more pockets pass the outlet each second. Very fast turning causes splashing and spilling between turns, so the extra effort is partly wasted. Timing the water collected at different speeds makes a good class investigation.

Where are Archimedes screws used today?

Large screw pumps lift wastewater and floodwater at treatment plants and drainage stations. Reversed screws are used as small hydroelectric turbines on rivers, and similar helical designs, called augers, move grain, powder and soil.

What energy changes happen in the model?

The person turning the crank supplies mechanical work. Part becomes gravitational potential energy of the lifted water, and the rest is lost as heat through friction and as kinetic energy of splashing. Comparing work in with energy gained introduces the idea of efficiency.

Last Updated: September 2026