Steam and its early uses
Mobile boilers were used to provide the force needed to drive machinery.

 
The force was transmitted through a network of pulleys connected by belts.

 

Pistons were used to power other machines. These early pistons used water. Water was heated to form steam, the steam molecules accelerated violently colliding with the walls of the piston chamber and forcing the piston up.

The animation on the right shows motion of a steam driven piston. Pressure is generated in the chamber by water molecules(steam) colliding with the walls. Such collisions push the piston shaft out which transmits the force to other parts of the machine it is attached to.

View the video on the right to see how the pistons transmit the force generated by the hot steam molecules.

 

 

Such pistons were used on steam trains and in paddle steamers. The piston shaft was connected onto wheels or levers which formed part of machinery designed for useful work.