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Steam Power

Definition

Steam power is a type of power that uses steam to generate mechanical energy. This was a key component in the Industrial Revolution, powering factories, locomotives, and ships.

Analogy

Think of steam power like your school's cafeteria. Just as the cafeteria uses heat (from stoves or ovens) to transform raw ingredients into meals, steam power uses heat (usually from burning coal) to transform water into steam, which then drives machinery.

Related terms

Thermal Energy: The internal energy present in a system due to its temperature. It's like the "heat" used in our cafeteria analogy.

Industrial Revolution: A period from 1760 to 1840 where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions starting in the United Kingdom.

Mechanical Energy: The sum of potential energy and kinetic energy. It's what gets produced when our "cafeteria" cooks up its meal - or when a steam engine burns coal to produce motion.