The "Perpetual Motion" Pump That Actually Works

Summary by Krater

Steve Mould demonstrates a 2D physical model of a ram pump to explain how water hammer creates high pressure and drives water uphill without external energy.

From the video

Answers: How does a ram pump work and what causes water hammer?

• ram pumps
• water hammer
• hydraulic transients
• fluid dynamics
• wave speed in water

What it concludes

• Ram pumps use water hammer to create temporary high pressure and push water uphill.
• Water is slightly compressible, making shock waves travel at the speed of sound through the pipe.
• A ram pump steals kinetic energy from a large amount of water to raise a smaller amount of water to a higher elevation.