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Technology from Ancient History: The Aeolipile
The aeolipile, invented in the first century by Heron of Alexandria (1st Century, A.D.), is considered to be the first recorded steam engine. However, the device was thought of as nothing more than a diversion during Hero's lifetime, and the device received little serious recognition until relatively modern times.
An aeolipile is a device consisting
of an air-tight chamber (usually a sphere or cylinder) with bent or curved pipes
projecting from it, through which steam is expelled perpendicular to the radius
of rotation. The resulting torque causes the device to spin (Newton's third
law). Typically, the water is heated in a basin, which is connected to the rotating
chamber by a pair of pipes that also serve as the pivots for the chamber. However,
the water may also be heated in the chamber itself as shown in the illustration
below.
The name —derived from the Latin words "aeoli" and "pila"—
translates to "the ball of Aeolus" ; Aeolus being the Greek god of
the wind.
Source: Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Brittanica (includes movie)
updated 4/9/07
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