Waterwheel Mill

Students drag the wooden gate up to let water through, drag the pond surface to change river height and click the millstone to lift it. A slider sets the millstone load and a toggle shows water drops. Readouts show water flow, wheel torque, wheel speed, power to the stone and flour ground. The wheel is 4 metres across. It shows how falling water turns an overshot wheel and gears, and how power depends on how much water flows and how far it falls.

• Drag the gate up a little and watch the Water flow Q and Wheel speed readouts.
• Drag the pond surface higher and see how flow and power change.
• Raise Millstone load and watch the Wheel speed slow while torque rises.
• Click the millstone to lift it and watch the wheel spin faster with no load.
• Turn Show water drops off to follow the buckets more clearly.
• Find the gate and load settings that give the most Flour ground over a minute.

1. 1Describe how falling water turns an overshot waterwheel.
2. 2Relate water flow and drop height to the power available.
3. 3Explain how a heavier load slows the wheel.
4. 4Connect waterwheels to medieval and Roman mills.

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