Page 113 - How It Works - Book of Amazing Answers To Curious Questions, 12

How does a Yale­

style loci< worl<?

Pin tumbler lod<S, as made famous by the Yale
lock manufacturer, use a simple yet ingenious
manner to form a secure lod<ing mechanism
that has evolved over thousands of years

pin tumbler lock is a lock down by a tiny coil spring. This means
mechanism that uses pins of that when no key - or indeed the wrong
A varying lengths to prevent the key- is inserted the pins are pushed
lock from opening without the correct down across the plug's shear line {the
key. The pin tumbler design is based on line where the plug is inserted into the
a main barrel that is drilled with five to outer casing) and it cannot rotate and
six cylinder slots that are set close open. Only when the correct key is
together in a line. Inside each cylinder a inserted are the pins elevated into
metal pin {tumbler) is fitted, with a alignment with the shear line and the What is
second pin {driver) on top of it, pushed lock allowed to open.

No key Wi-Fi?
With no key in the lock the blue
driver pins of the tumbler are
pushed downwards by the
springs, thereby preventing the � How data gets transferred
yellow plug from rotating.
& wirelessly to your laptop
any electronic devices such
as laptops, games
Wireless signals can
M consoles and mobile
be transmitted to
phones can be connected to many devices
the internet- or to each other
-securely, quickly and
Correct key wirelessly, using radio
If the correct key is inserted then frequencies instead of cables
both red key pins and blue driver to transmit data.
pins align with the shear line.
A wireless network comprises
a source computer connected to
Bad key the internet using an Ethernet cable, a
If an incorrect key is inserted into the lock, the router to translate data {1s and os) into a radio signal and an
red key pins and blue driver pins do not align
with the shear line of the locking mechanism, antenna inside the wireless device to pick up the signal.
thereby preventing the yellow plug from Like using a walkie talkie, sending information via radio
rotating and the lock opening.
waves requires the frequency bands to be broken down
into channels to avoid outside interference.
To enable, say, a laptop to connect to a wireless network,
the laptop requires a wireless adaptor, which can both
send and receive data to and from the network router,
which can also send and receive data. Both devices are
fitted with decoders, which convert radio signals into
digital form. When you want to connect your laptop to the
Open internet, the adaptor communicates with the router via
With the gaps between the pins " radio signals. The router decodes the signals and, via the
aligned with the lock's shear line,
the plug is now free to rotate, Ethernet connection, fetches the relevant data from the
opening the lock. l internet. This info is converted into radio signals and sent
" to the laptop's wireless adaptor where it is decoded, giving
you the internet page you requested.

WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net How It Works 113