Define the Following Terms: Steam Engine

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Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder or to turn a steam turbine. This movement can then be used to power various types of machinery, such as locomotives, ships, factories, and power generation plants.

The basic principle behind a steam engine is the conversion of the heat energy from boiling water into mechanical energy. The process begins with water being heated in a boiler to produce steam. The high-pressure steam is then directed into a cylinder where it expands and pushes against a piston or a turbine blade. As the steam expands, it cools and condenses into water, which is then returned to the boiler to be reheated and used again in a continuous cycle.

Steam engines were developed over several centuries and reached their peak of development in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Industrial Revolution. They played a crucial role in the mechanization of industry and transportation, enabling factories to be sited away from water power sources and allowing for the development of railways and steamships.

The steam engine was eventually superseded by internal combustion engines and electric motors, which are more efficient and easier to operate. However, the steam engine remains an important historical invention that greatly contributed to the advancement of technology and society.

Define the Following Terms: Steam Engine

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