The Development of the Steam Engine and Its Impact

These flashcards cover key inventions and figures related to the steam engine and its significance during the Industrial Revolution.

James Watt

Inventor who improved the steam engine by adding a separate condenser in 1769, leading to increased efficiency and power for factories.

Separate Condenser

A component added to Watt's steam engine that allowed it to use less coal while increasing its power.

Industrial Revolution

A period marked by the transition to new manufacturing processes, greatly influenced by the development of steam engines.

Thomas Savery

Inventor who created a steam engine in 1648 used to pump water out of mines, beginning the industrial revolution.

Newcomen's Steam Engine

An 1712 invention that added a piston to pump water from deeper mines, improving reliability and practicality compared to Savery's engine.

Textile Industry

An industry that benefited from steam engines as they powered machines for mass production.

Coal

A fossil fuel that was essential for burning in steam engines but led to pollution and was expensive to mine and use.

Efficiency

A measure of how effectively a machine uses resources; Savery's steam engine was inefficient compared to later models.

Mass Production

The manufacturing of large quantities of standardized products, facilitated by steam-powered machinery.

Pollution

The introduction of harmful substances into the environment, a consequence of burning coal for steam engines.