Brianne Hertzog’s World of Tech classes at Deer Park High School recently discovered how hydraulics work and are present in many places, often without us even noticing. The basic principle of any hydraulic system is that force applied at one point is transmitted to another through the use of incompressible fluid. These systems can be found in everyday applications such as automobiles (brakes, steering), aerospace (aircraft controls, landing gears), construction vehicles (excavators, cranes), office chairs (levers to adjust height) and amusement park rides (raising and lowering safety bars, brakes and launching mechanisms).

After the students gained an understanding of how hydraulic systems function, it was time for them to create a project that demonstrated their knowledge. To showcase hydraulic power and mechanics, the class was divided into six groups, each tasked with building a T-Bot Hydraulic Arm from a kit. Once completed, the groups practiced moving different parts of the T-Bot, with the use of incompressible water in tubes and syringes, to pick up and transport dice and ping pong balls for a series of competitive challenges. The competition featured four different tasks, and the students demonstrated strong teamwork and collaboration to successfully complete each challenge.

Date Added: 4/1/2025