James Watt - Revision history

Jclark302 at 18:21, 5 December 2015

2015-12-05T18:21:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:21, 5 December 2015
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~Page under construction - Joseph Clark (jclark302)~~

	[[File:James-watts-225.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|right\|James Watt (1736-1819)]]		[[File:James-watts-225.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|right\|James Watt (1736-1819)]]

Line 85:		Line 83:

	http://www.famousscientists.org/james-watt/ (Famous Scientists)		http://www.famousscientists.org/james-watt/ (Famous Scientists)

			Author: Joseph Clark (jclark302)

			[[Category: Notable Scientists]]

Jclark302 at 18:17, 5 December 2015

2015-12-05T18:17:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:17, 5 December 2015
Line 13:		Line 13:

	===Career and Later Life===		===Career and Later Life===
	In 1763, Watt was given the task of repairing a malfunctioning steam engine by a professor at the University of Glasgow. While Watt found the flaw in the model engine, he realized that the most modern design, the Newcomen engine, which had remained largely unchanged for nearly 50 years, was hopelessly inefficient due to massive amounts of energy wasted. The current design, he demonstrated, converted nearly three-quarters of its energy to thermal energy, rather than mechanical energy.		In 1763, Watt was given the task of repairing a malfunctioning steam engine by a professor at the University of Glasgow. While Watt found the flaw in the model engine, he realized that the most modern design, the Newcomen engine, which had remained largely unchanged for nearly 50 years, was hopelessly inefficient due to massive amounts of energy wasted. The current design, he demonstrated, converted nearly three-quarters of its energy to [[thermal energy]], rather than [[mechanical energy]].

	Watt spent two years creating a new design and several more improving on the Newcomen steam engine, eventually acquiring a patent in 1769. Capital from John Roebuck and Matthew Boulton finally led to the manufacture of Watt's steam engine in 1776, 11 years after he first created his new design. In 1781, Watt made his next landmark improvement to the steam engine, creating an engine with a rotary output through the invention of the planetary gear. Other improvements, like the throttling valve and the engine governor, finally allowed steam engines, previously confined to mining, to be used to supply power to manufacturing industries as well as to canals and waterworks. By his retirement in 1800, Bolton and Watt had became the most important engineering firm in the country.		Watt spent two years creating a new design and several more improving on the Newcomen steam engine, eventually acquiring a patent in 1769. Capital from John Roebuck and Matthew Boulton finally led to the manufacture of Watt's steam engine in 1776, 11 years after he first created his new design. In 1781, Watt made his next landmark improvement to the steam engine, creating an engine with a rotary output through the invention of the planetary gear. Other improvements, like the throttling valve and the engine governor, finally allowed steam engines, previously confined to mining, to be used to supply power to manufacturing industries as well as to canals and waterworks. By his retirement in 1800, Bolton and Watt had became the most important engineering firm in the country.

Jclark302 at 18:16, 5 December 2015

2015-12-05T18:16:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:16, 5 December 2015
Line 3:		Line 3:
	[[File:James-watts-225.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|right\|James Watt (1736-1819)]]		[[File:James-watts-225.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|right\|James Watt (1736-1819)]]

	James Watt (1736-1819) was an inventor, mechanical engineer, and chemist best known for his improvements to the steam engine, which spurred the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the United States, as well as for his creation of the term "horsepower." The SI unit for power, the Watt, is named after James Watt in recognition of his contributions to the concept of power and how it is used today.		James Watt (1736-1819) was an inventor, mechanical engineer, and chemist best known for his improvements to the steam engine, which spurred the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the United States, as well as for his creation of the term "horsepower." The [[SI unit]] for [[power]], the Watt, is named after James Watt in recognition of his contributions to the concept of power and how it is used today.

Jclark302: /* See also */

2015-12-05T18:15:00Z

Jclark302: /* See also */

2015-12-05T18:14:51Z

Jclark302: /* Scientific Contributions */

2015-12-05T18:12:25Z

Scientific Contributions

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:12, 5 December 2015
Line 31:		Line 31:
	==Scientific Contributions==		==Scientific Contributions==

	In addition to his inventions, Watt had numerous scientific contributions. They ~~are as follows~~:		In addition to his inventions, Watt had numerous scientific contributions. They include:

	* Introduction of the term ''horsepower'' to describe power output. He described one horsepower to be 33,000 ft*lbs/min. The horsepower is still in use as a unit today, often used to describe modern engines used in transportation vehicles. One horsepower is now defined to be about 735 Watts.		* Introduction of the term ''horsepower'' to describe power output. He described one horsepower to be 33,000 ft*lbs/min. The horsepower is still in use as a unit today, often used to describe modern engines used in transportation vehicles. One horsepower is now defined to be about 735 Watts.
	* First to explicitly suggest that water was composed of hydrogen and oxygen, in 1783. Previously, many had thought water to be its own element. Other scientists found hydrogen and oxygen could be created from water; Watt was the first to actually propose that water was made of hydrogen and oxygen.		* First to explicitly suggest that water was composed of hydrogen and oxygen, in 1783. Previously, many had thought water to be its own element. Other scientists found hydrogen and oxygen could be created from water; Watt was the first to actually propose that water was made of hydrogen and oxygen.
	* Independently proved the existence of latent heat, previously discovered by Joseph Black in 1750. Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released during a change in state, where the substance remains at the same temperature.		* Independently proved the existence of latent heat, previously discovered by Joseph Black in 1750. Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released during a change in state, where the substance remains at the same temperature.
	*

	==Interesting Facts==		==Interesting Facts==

Jclark302 at 18:12, 5 December 2015

2015-12-05T18:12:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:12, 5 December 2015
Line 31:		Line 31:
	==Scientific Contributions==		==Scientific Contributions==

	In addition to his inventions, Watt had ~~several~~ scientific		In addition to his inventions, Watt had numerous scientific contributions. They are as follows:

			* Introduction of the term ''horsepower'' to describe power output. He described one horsepower to be 33,000 ft*lbs/min. The horsepower is still in use as a unit today, often used to describe modern engines used in transportation vehicles. One horsepower is now defined to be about 735 Watts.
			* First to explicitly suggest that water was composed of hydrogen and oxygen, in 1783. Previously, many had thought water to be its own element. Other scientists found hydrogen and oxygen could be created from water; Watt was the first to actually propose that water was made of hydrogen and oxygen.
			* Independently proved the existence of latent heat, previously discovered by Joseph Black in 1750. Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released during a change in state, where the substance remains at the same temperature.
			*

	==Interesting Facts==		==Interesting Facts==

			* Watt also created the world's first copying machine, similar to a photocopier, in order to help him copy his designs.
			* Was close friends with Adam Smith, founder of Economics and writer of ''The Wealth of Nations'', as well as with Joseph Black, who discovered latent heat and the element magnesium.
			* Did lots of surveying work, and invented the micrometer, predecessor to the modern "rangefinder", in 1770-1771 to assist him in his surveying.
			* Invented the flexible water main, first used in Glasgow, which is now common across the world in water delivery and sewage.
			* Member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Royal Society of London, and a Foreign Associate of the French Academy of Sciences.

	== See also ==		== See also ==
Line 68:		Line 77:

	http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/29/james-watt-sabbath-day-fossil-fuel-revolution-condenser (The Guardian)		http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/29/james-watt-sabbath-day-fossil-fuel-revolution-condenser (The Guardian)

			http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/podcast/CIIEcompounds/transcripts/water.asp (Royal Society of Chemistry)

			http://www.famousscientists.org/james-watt/ (Famous Scientists)

Jclark302: /* Scientific Contributions */

2015-12-05T17:54:54Z

Scientific Contributions

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:54, 5 December 2015
Line 31:		Line 31:
	==Scientific Contributions==		==Scientific Contributions==

			In addition to his inventions, Watt had several scientific

	~~===Coulomb’s Law===~~



	==Interesting Facts==		==Interesting Facts==

Jclark302: /* See also */

2015-12-05T17:53:46Z

Jclark302 at 17:53, 5 December 2015

2015-12-05T17:53:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 5 December 2015
Line 43:		Line 43:
	== See also ==		== See also ==

			===Further Reading===

			Carnegie, Andrew. ''James Watt'' (1913)

			Dickinson, H. W., Jenkins, Rhys. ''James Watt and the Steam Engine'' (1919)

			Marshall, Thomas. ''James Watt'' (1925)

			===External Links===

			http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/watt_james.shtml

			http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/watt

			http://digital.nls.uk/scientists/biographies/james-watt/

			http://www.engineeringhalloffame.org/profile-watt.html


Line 56:		Line 73:

	http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/29/james-watt-sabbath-day-fossil-fuel-revolution-condenser (The Guardian)		http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/29/james-watt-sabbath-day-fossil-fuel-revolution-condenser (The Guardian)


	~~===External links===~~

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:15, 5 December 2015
Line 47:		Line 47:
	== See also ==		== See also ==
	[[Power (Mechanical)]]		[[Power (Mechanical)]]

	[[SI Units]]		[[SI Units]]

	[[Josiah Willard Gibbs]]		[[Josiah Willard Gibbs]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:14, 5 December 2015
Line 46:		Line 46:

	== See also ==		== See also ==
			[[Power (Mechanical)]]
			[[SI Units]]
			[[Josiah Willard Gibbs]]

	===Further Reading===		===Further Reading===

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 5 December 2015
Line 60:		Line 60:

	http://www.engineeringhalloffame.org/profile-watt.html		http://www.engineeringhalloffame.org/profile-watt.html


	==References==		==References==