Leonardo da Vinci studied Archimedes’ screw, a water-lifting machine with a continuous helical blade inside a cylinder.
The device consists of a spiral surface wrapped around a central shaft. When the shaft turns, water is carried upward along the spiral. Leonardo drew and analyzed screw-based water machines as part of his investigations into hydraulics, engineering, and the movement of fluids.
The machine was not Leonardo’s original invention. It is traditionally associated with the ancient Greek scientist Archimedes, and versions of the principle were known long before the Renaissance. Leonardo’s importance lies in his detailed study, mechanical refinements, and interest in practical applications such as drainage, irrigation, and construction.
An Archimedes’ screw is different from a water wheel, which uses flowing water to produce rotation. In this case, rotation is supplied to move water upward. The same principle is still used in modern pumps, wastewater systems, and grain-handling equipment.