This guide is available to teachers booking the Ram Pumps workshop as part of a school visit.
Workshop Overview
The Ram Pumps workshop introduces students to hydraulic ram pump technology - a sustainable water transportation system that operates without electricity. Through hands-on demonstrations and calculations, students explore water hammer physics, energy conservation, and system efficiency.
Pre-Visit Preparation
Before Your Visit
- Review basic physics concepts: potential energy, kinetic energy, pressure
- Introduce the water cycle and water scarcity challenges
- Discuss sustainability and renewable energy
- Pre-teach: water hammer effect (optional but helpful)
- Prepare students with measuring and calculation skills
Student Prerequisites
Students should be comfortable with:
- Basic algebra and equation manipulation
- Reading and recording measurements
- Calculating percentages
- Working in small groups
Curriculum Connections
Science Standards Addressed
Physics
• Energy conservation
• Pressure and force
• Momentum transfer
• Efficiency calculations
Engineering
• System design
• Problem-solving
• Optimization
• Failure analysis
Environmental Science
• Sustainable technology
• Water resource management
• Off-grid solutions
• Historical innovation
Mathematics
• Applied algebra
• Ratio and proportion
• Unit conversion
• Data analysis
Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, students will be able to:
- Explain how a hydraulic ram pump works using physics principles
- Calculate the efficiency of a ram pump system
- Identify the key components and their functions
- Describe the relationship between drive height, lift height, and flow rate
- Analyze failure modes and suggest solutions
- Discuss real-world applications for sustainable water access
Workshop Lesson Plan
| Time | Activity | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 0-10 min | Introduction & Context History of invention, modern applications, sustainability connection |
Engagement & relevance |
| 10-30 min | System Demonstration Show the pump in action, identify components, explain the cycle |
Conceptual understanding |
| 30-60 min | Efficiency Testing Students measure flow rates, heights, calculate efficiency in groups |
Hands-on data collection & math |
| 60-80 min | Failure Mode Experiments Induce failures: low drive, high lift, air leaks, valve problems |
Problem-solving & troubleshooting |
| 80-90 min | Discussion & Applications Where could this technology help? Design considerations? |
Critical thinking & real-world connection |
| 90-120 min | Extension Activities (optional) Design challenges, optimization experiments, deeper calculations |
Advanced exploration |
Teaching Tips
- Start visual: Let students see the pump working before diving into theory
- Group work: Assign roles (measurer, timer, calculator, recorder) for efficiency experiments
- Encourage failure: Frame failure experiments as learning opportunities, not mistakes
- Connect to context: Regularly reference real-world water access challenges
- Differentiation: Advanced students can explore the mathematics of water hammer; others can focus on qualitative understanding
Assessment & Follow-Up
Formative Assessment During Visit
- Observe students during efficiency calculations - are they setting up equations correctly?
- Listen to group discussions - do they use physics vocabulary accurately?
- Check data recording sheets for completeness and accuracy
- Ask students to predict what will happen during failure mode experiments
Post-Visit Activities
- Have students write lab reports analyzing efficiency data
- Design challenge: Sketch a ram pump system for a specific scenario
- Research project: Find modern applications of ram pumps worldwide
- Compare/contrast: How do ram pumps compare to electric pumps in terms of sustainability, cost, efficiency?
- Creative extension: Design infographic explaining how ram pumps work
Sample Assessment Questions
Understanding:
- Explain in your own words how a ram pump creates pressure to lift water
- Why doesn't a ram pump work if the drive height is too low?
Application:
- A village needs to pump water 20 meters uphill. Their water source is 5 meters above the pump. Will a ram pump work? Why or why not?
- If a ram pump has 40% efficiency, and you measure 100 liters flowing through the waste valve per minute, how much water is being delivered to the upper reservoir?
Analysis:
- Compare the energy inputs and outputs of the system. Where is energy "lost"?
- How would you optimize a ram pump for maximum efficiency?
Additional Resources
- 📐 Efficiency Calculation Worksheet - Available on request
- 📊 Data Recording Sheet - Download from teacher portal
- 🎥 Video Supplement - Slow-motion footage of valve action
- 📚 Historical Context Reading - Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and the invention of the ram pump
- 🌍 Case Studies - Real-world ram pump installations in water-scarce regions
Contact GUIDAL for access to downloadable teaching materials and worksheets.
Questions or Need Support?
Our education team is here to help you make the most of your school visit. Contact us with questions about preparation, curriculum alignment, or follow-up activities.
📧 Email: education@guidal.org
📞 Phone: [Contact number]