nPostednon January 19, 2016
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Tona great extent, James Watt powered the Industrial Revolution!
Tona great extent, James Watt powered the Industrial Revolution!n
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nThisnScottish inventor was born on January 19, 1736 O.S. (“O.S.”nmeans “Old Style”; this indicates that in Scotland in 1736, thencalendar read “January 19” on the day that Watt was born.nHowever, in places that had already replaced the Julian calendar withnthe Gregorian calendar, like Italy, that same day was called Januaryn30! We sometimes put “N.S.” next to dates that have been updatednto the Gregorian calendar, since that is the one we currently use;n“N.S.” of course means “New Style.”)
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Wenoften say that James Watt invented the steam engine. But actually henReinvented the steam engine. Like many (most?) inventors, Watt lookednat the devices that already existed and created a better version.nWatt’s engine was much more powerful, much more efficient, and muchnmore cost-effective than earlier steam engines.
Wenoften say that James Watt invented the steam engine. But actually henReinvented the steam engine. Like many (most?) inventors, Watt lookednat the devices that already existed and created a better version.nWatt’s engine was much more powerful, much more efficient, and muchnmore cost-effective than earlier steam engines.n
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nIt’sncalled (not too surprisingly) the Watt steam engine.
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nHowndid Watt improve engines so much? He noticed that the engines wastedna lot of energy by having to repeatedly cool and then reheat in ordernto use and reuse the water. Watt’s engine had a separate condensernthat avoided this waste of energy.
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nAnothernhuge improvement was that Watt was able to produce rotary motionn(turning a shaft) rather than oscillating motion (going back andnforth), which earlier engines produced. Rotary motion was way morenuseful for factories and transportation devices.
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nSo…what’sna Boulton and Watt steam engine?
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“Boultonnand Watt steam engine” is just another name for the same thing.nWhen Watt first perfected his newer, better steam engine, he had anhard time selling it to people. He was in the red, financiallynspeaking. But then he got a business partner named Matthew Boulton,nand the new firm became very successful. Both men became wealthy, andnthe words “steam engine” came to mean THEIR steam engine and nonother.
“Boultonnand Watt steam engine” is just another name for the same thing.nWhen Watt first perfected his newer, better steam engine, he had anhard time selling it to people. He was in the red, financiallynspeaking. But then he got a business partner named Matthew Boulton,nand the new firm became very successful. Both men became wealthy, andnthe words “steam engine” came to mean THEIR steam engine and nonother.n
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nWattncontinued to develop new inventions, although none were asnworld-shaking as his steam engine. He developed the idea ofnhorsepower, and the entire way we talk about power – with 60-wattnbulbs and 650-watt microwaves – honors Watt with the unit of powernbeing named after him!
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nHeren is an animation of the steam engine at work.
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nHeren is a video of massive, glistening, powerful steam engines working.
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nHeren is a very short video about the importance of the invention.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nNationalnPopcorn Day
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nTinnCan Day
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nRobertnE. Lee Day
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nArtistnPaul Cezanne’s birthday
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nAnniversarynof Captain Wilkes claiming Antarctica for the U.S.
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Elfstedentochtinnthe Netherlands
Elfstedentochtinnthe Netherlands
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Plannahead:
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Plannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest pages on:
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nJanuaryn birthdays
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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