What is a faucet?

    A faucet is a device, usually in a sink or bathtub, that controls the amount of water that comes out of the pipes in your house.
     Water usually comes into your house through pipes in your cellar.  If you don't have a cellar, ask your parents where water comes into your house.  These pipes can be made of copper or plastic.  Water travels through these to your faucets. 
    The water is under pressure so that when you turn on the faucet, start your dishwasher or clothes washer, or spray your outside hoses, water comes out.  The water can come out of the faucet at different speeds.  When you turn on your kitchen faucet, the force or pressure might be very strong.  When you turn on the faucet at your friend's house, it might be weaker.  Water pressure can be different from house to house. 
    Faucets have a plug inside of them that stops the water from coming out until you turn the handle.  When the handle is turned, it turns a stick that is attached to this plug and raises it until the water comes out of the spout.  If you turn the faucet handle a little bit, it only makes a small opening so you get a small amount of water.  If you turn the handle a lot, you get more water because the opening is larger.
    To find out more about how faucets work, click here.