Steam+Engine

The **Steam Engine** is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.
====The Steam Engine is considered one of major components that boomed the Industrial Revolution. The Steam Locomotive was built for long distance travel that horses nor man could accomplish. The rotating (locomotion) power that the steam engine provided in the locomotive helped the locomotive travel long distances with travelers and commercial goods starting in 19th century Europe, and then eventually to the United States. Its counterpart, the Steamboat, also used steam power to drive ships carrying cargo across the oceans (Whipps). The Steam Boat also introduced the use of steam power, propellers and paddle wheels. These new innovations powered by the steam engine in the boat were for thrust, and energy to hall passengers and cargo over long distances through large bodies of water. By the innovation of the Steam Engine in general, machinery was tested beyond its original use. To this day, steam power via turbines generate approximately 90 percent of the United States' electric power (Wikipedia).====

Before Steam Power
====The Steam Engine was not fully capable or fully designed until James Watt perfected steam power in an engine in 1781 (Wikipedia). For the longest time until the 19th century, people used inventions such as the windmill and water wheel to grind grains which large stones could crush. The water wheel and windmill in their prime were considered to be incredible innovations that helped with efficiency and overall energy. However, these innovations were also considered inefficient for their many problems due to weather conditions, the manual labor it required, and also these inventions didn't provide for technological advances that the steam engine brought (Collier). That being said, the steam engine eliminated the manual labor, and provided technological advances that the windmill and water wheel couldn't provide.====

The Innovation Begins
====With innovation of steam power, the steam engine was widely being used in factories, steam locomotives, steamboats, and turbines in the 19th century. The steam engine is considered one of the key components of the Industrial Revolution, and helped shape the energy-powered world we know today. This innovation had the greatest impact on how we travel over long distances in shorter periods of time since the 19th century (Collier). Most travelers and commercial goods are transported on creeks, rivers, and lakes completely reliant on the direction of currents and wind patterns. Said earlier, the steam engine was put into a boat (steamboat) for the objective of traveling great distances overseas. This new method of travel took less time and was more efficient due to the fact that raw steam power could fit into bigger boat structures, and haul heavier cargo. The locomotive also benefitted from the steam engine for the objective of long-distance travel over land. The newly formed steam locomotive benefitted the Industrial Revolution by the innovation it brought with the Transcontinental Railway that connected the United States east and west in May of 1869. "In June of 1876, the Transcontinental Express set a record of 83 hours and 39 minutes to make a trip from New York City to San Francisco" (Whipps). This was the first successful coast to coast journey for any man-made machine to travel the entire country.====

media type="file" key="How_Its_Made_-_Steam_Engines.mp4" width="300" height="300"