Water Wheel Essay

850 Words4 Pages
The Water Wheel: SUMMERYThe water wheel has been called one of the most useful inventions of the ancient times. It is believed to be invented 1 or 2 centuries before Christ. Later it helped in the development of hydraulics and other sources of natural power. There are four different types of water wheels and they work on two fundamental principles, “gravity” and “impulse”. The water wheel had many uses in agriculture and engineering during the ancient times and some new machines are still made with the same basic principles. This invention has been called a major turning point in the history of technology. HISTORYSome historians call the water wheel one of the significant inventions of the ancient times. It was an important part of the history of technology and advancement. For the first time ever, the water wheel gave humans the ability to use a power source for agriculture and other industries. The use of waterpower spread quickly and it made large advancements in production of companies. The technology helped the flour milling industry by increasing the amount of flour produced and saved a lot of time. Even a small 2 or 3 horsepower water wheel could grind grain faster than 30 men and woman. The origin of the water wheel is still a mystery for historians. The turning wheel has been traced back to ancient India dating back to the fourth century B.C. but it is not clear if the wheel was powered by water at that time. They believe that the Indians used a wheel to lift water but the water did not power the wheel. Most believe that the first time a wheel was powered by water it was by the ancient Greek and Roman people between the third and first century B.C. The Romans had built water aqueducts in their cities and used water wheels to push the water and power the city. They used the waterpower to mill flour to make bread. Their enemies would

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