![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_november_december_2018/climb_up_slide_down_and_move_it_along/193828/stairs.480_0_1.png)
Dig In
Whenyoudriveascrewintowood,it’seasierifaholeisalreadythere.That’swhereadrillhelps.Andguesswhat?Adrillbitisa screw.
Amotorspinsthedrill.Thetipofthedrilldigsintothewood.Inafewseconds,youhaveasmall hole.
Somelargerdrillsmakelargerholes.Theydigholesinthegroundtomakewells.Theyalsomakeholesforfencepostsandtelephone poles.
Mostscrewsspinroundandround.Butsomescrewsdon’tmoveatall.Thinkofaspiralstaircase.Aspiralstaircaseisshapedlikea screw.
Aspiralstaircase
isabig screw!
MoveIt Along
Screwsholdthingstogether.Theydigholesandsavespace,too.Buttheycanalsomove things.
A longtimeago,aGreekinventornamedArchimedeshadanidea.Hewanted toliftwaterfromariver towatercrops.Heusedabigscrew.Thescrewwasputinsideatube.Oneendofthetubewasplacedinariver.Aworkerturned acrank.Theturningthreadsofthescrewpulledthewaterupthetube.Watercameoutattheotherend.Itflowedalongditchestofields.Archimedes’screwisstillused today!
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_november_december_2018/climb_up_slide_down_and_move_it_along/193829/archimedes_screw.1440_0_1.png)
Archimedes’ screw