Lesson test: The steam engine

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The steam engine

1.[3p]
Why was the Newcomen engine so wasteful of fuel?

Cold water sprayed into the cylinder cooled it every stroke, so the next charge of steam had to reheat the iron

Correct

Its boiler operated at dangerously high pressure and lost steam through the safety valve

The answer is: Cold water sprayed into the cylinder cooled it every stroke, so the next charge of steam had to reheat the iron

Its cylinder could not be bored accurately, so most of the steam leaked past the piston

The answer is: Cold water sprayed into the cylinder cooled it every stroke, so the next charge of steam had to reheat the iron

It ran too fast for the pump rods to keep up

The answer is: Cold water sprayed into the cylinder cooled it every stroke, so the next charge of steam had to reheat the iron

2.[2p]
What was Watt's separate condenser?

A vessel kept permanently cold in which the steam condensed, so the cylinder could stay permanently hot

Correct

A second cylinder that reused the exhaust steam at lower pressure

The answer is: A vessel kept permanently cold in which the steam condensed, so the cylinder could stay permanently hot

A tank that recovered the condensed water for reuse in the boiler

The answer is: A vessel kept permanently cold in which the steam condensed, so the cylinder could stay permanently hot

A jacket of steam surrounding the cylinder to keep it warm

The answer is: A vessel kept permanently cold in which the steam condensed, so the cylinder could stay permanently hot

3.[2p]
An early Newcomen engine returned about 4.3 million foot-pounds per bushel and the best Cornish engines about 60 million. By what factor did duty rise?

CorrectNot quite: 14

4.[3p]
A Newcomen engine working between steam at 373 K and cooling water at 293 K has what theoretical maximum efficiency, as a fraction between 0 and 1?

CorrectNot quite: 0.214

5.[2p]
Put these engines and improvements in chronological order.

Trevithick's high pressure locomotive at Penydarren
Watt's separate condenser patent
Newcomen's atmospheric engine
Savery's pump

Show the answer

a, b, c, d

6.[2p]
How did Boulton and Watt charge for their engines?

An annual royalty of a third of the value of the coal saved against a Newcomen engine of the same power

Correct

A fixed purchase price plus a share of the mine's output

The answer is: An annual royalty of a third of the value of the coal saved against a Newcomen engine of the same power

Free installation in exchange for exclusive supply of the coal

The answer is: An annual royalty of a third of the value of the coal saved against a Newcomen engine of the same power

A percentage of the wages saved by dismissing pump workers

The answer is: An annual royalty of a third of the value of the coal saved against a Newcomen engine of the same power

7.[2p]
The extension of Watt's patent to 1800 is generally thought to have delayed the development of the high pressure engine.

True

Correct

False

The answer is: True

8.[3p]
Von Tunzelmann calculated that without Watt's engine, British national income in 1800 would have been lower by about one tenth of one per cent. What does that show?

In 1800 the installed base was still small, so a good technology can contribute almost nothing for decades

Correct

The steam engine was not a real improvement over water power

The answer is: In 1800 the installed base was still small, so a good technology can contribute almost nothing for decades

The national accounts for 1800 are too unreliable to use

The answer is: In 1800 the installed base was still small, so a good technology can contribute almost nothing for decades

Watt's engine was less efficient than the Newcomen engines it replaced

The answer is: In 1800 the installed base was still small, so a good technology can contribute almost nothing for decades

9.[3p]
Which of these did Watt patent?

Select all that apply

The double-acting engine

Correct

The sun-and-planet gear

Correct

The centrifugal governor

Correct

The crank, for converting reciprocating motion to rotary

The answer is: The double-acting engine, The sun-and-planet gear, The centrifugal governor

1.[3p] Why was the Newcomen engine so wasteful of fuel?

2.[2p] What was Watt's separate condenser?

3.[2p] An early Newcomen engine returned about 4.3 million foot-pounds per bushel and the best Cornish engines about 60 million. By what factor did duty rise?

4.[3p] A Newcomen engine working between steam at 373 K and cooling water at 293 K has what theoretical maximum efficiency, as a fraction between 0 and 1?

5.[2p] Put these engines and improvements in chronological order.

6.[2p] How did Boulton and Watt charge for their engines?

7.[2p] The extension of Watt's patent to 1800 is generally thought to have delayed the development of the high pressure engine.

8.[3p] Von Tunzelmann calculated that without Watt's engine, British national income in 1800 would have been lower by about one tenth of one per cent. What does that show?

9.[3p] Which of these did Watt patent?

1.[3p]
Why was the Newcomen engine so wasteful of fuel?

2.[2p]
What was Watt's separate condenser?

3.[2p]
An early Newcomen engine returned about 4.3 million foot-pounds per bushel and the best Cornish engines about 60 million. By what factor did duty rise?

4.[3p]
A Newcomen engine working between steam at 373 K and cooling water at 293 K has what theoretical maximum efficiency, as a fraction between 0 and 1?

5.[2p]
Put these engines and improvements in chronological order.

6.[2p]
How did Boulton and Watt charge for their engines?

7.[2p]
The extension of Watt's patent to 1800 is generally thought to have delayed the development of the high pressure engine.

8.[3p]
Von Tunzelmann calculated that without Watt's engine, British national income in 1800 would have been lower by about one tenth of one per cent. What does that show?

9.[3p]
Which of these did Watt patent?