Steam engine

The power of steam was first used to pump water out of mines, but the clunky engines tended to explode. Englishman Thomas Newcomen invented a more successful version in 1712, but it was still very inefficient. In the 1770s, Scottish inventor James Watt improved the invention and made it much more efficient.

3. Piston rod

moves up and down, pushing on one end of a beam.

2. Cylinder contains a piston, which is pushed up and down by the steam, and pushes on the piston rod. 4. Beam connnects to a second rod, which drives the gear wheel. The steam engine played an essential role in the Industrial Revolution. Millions of people moved from the countryside to work in city factories. How it changed the world

5. Heavy flywheel prevents the engine from getting stuck at the top or the bottom of each up-and-down cycle.

6. Gear wheel

turns up-and-down motion into rotational motion, which can drive machinery.

1. Tube allows steam from heated water into the engine’s cylinder.

The DRIVING FORCE behind the machines that powered the Industrial Revolution

Moving machines

Watt steamed ahead, continually improving his engine. It was used to pump water into canals and out of mines, drive bellows in ironworks, and power machiNes in textile mills. This rapid growth of industry was called the Industrial Revolution. By the way... My invention was a huge success in my lifetime and I died a wealthy man at the age of 83. A unit of power, the watt, is named after me.