Why do escalators have vertical grooves in them? Haven't you ever noticed that escalator stairs are grooved? Well, they are! But why do these moving stairs look so unlike regular stairs? In fact, those grooves perform an essential role in the operation of the escalator.

First of all, an escalator is a complex mechanism, and the stairs you’re standing on are an integral part of it. Standing on the steps of an escalator is basically the same as standing inside a clock: you’re right in the heart of things. And the most awesome part is that you’re also standing both on the outside and the inside of the escalator at the same time!

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