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The Conversation USA

How do keys open locks?

  • Written by Scott Craver, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Binghamton University, State University of New York
imageThe depths of the valleys on a key act like a code that must match the lock.Robin Smith/The Image Bank via Getty Imagesimage

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

How are keys made, and how do they open locks? – Noli, age 12,...

Read more: How do keys open locks?

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