Steam Engine
Definition
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. It was an essential part of industrialization during the Industrial Revolution.
Analogy
Consider the steam engine as your school bus. Just like how your school bus takes you from home to school (converting fuel into motion), a steam engine converts heat energy from steam into mechanical work.
Related terms
James Watt: An inventor who significantly improved the efficiency of the steam engine by adding a separate condenser.
Locomotive: A powered rail vehicle used for pulling trains which often uses a steam engine for power.
Industrialization: The process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on manufacturing goods.
"Steam Engine" appears in:
Study guides (3)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (12)
Which of the following best describes the impact of the steam engine on the Industrial Revolution in Britain?
Which technological innovation played a significant role in the development of the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution?
Which individual is associated with the invention of the steam engine?
Which individual is most closely linked to the invention of the steam engine, a significant innovation during the Industrial Revolution?
How might the Industrial Revolution have evolved differently had James Watt not improved the steam engine in 1769?
Who invented the steam engine that fueled industrialization?
Who led Britain's industrial revolution by inventing a steam engine that could drive machinery?
What primary factor drove Industrial Revolution advancements in transportation, like the steam engine?
When was the steam engine first patented, facilitating industrial manufacturing processes?
Who is credited with creating one of the first commercially viable steam engines that powered many industries during the industrial revolution?
Who is credited with the invention of the steam engine, a significant technological innovation in 19th century Europe?
Who invented steam engine that revolutionized industrial production during this period?
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