Curious Kids: how does a tower crane go up and down?

By Kenneth Awinda, Senior Lecturer, School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Portsmouth

How does a crane go up and down? – Spencer, aged four, UK

When you see the metal arms of a crane – known properly as a tower crane – against the skyline, you know a new building is going up in your city or town.

Many of the materials and machines on a big building site are too heavy for people to lift by themselves without getting hurt. Using a tower crane means that building materials can be lifted easily and quickly, even when something very tall is being built, such as a skyscraper.

Tower cranes are huge. They are transported to a building…

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