alb3824432

Hero's Engine, First Recorded Steam Engine

In the first century AD a Greek inventor known as Hero of Alexandria came up with a new invention that depended more on the mechanical interaction of heat and water. He invented a rocket-like device called an aeolipile, also known as Hero's engine. It used steam for propulsion. Hero mounted a sphere on top of a water kettle. A fire below the kettle turned the water into steam, and the gas traveled through the pipes to the sphere. Two L-shaped tubes on opposite sides of the sphere allowed the gas to escape, and in doing so gave a thrust to the sphere that caused it to rotate. Hero (or Heron) of Alexandria (10-70 AD) was an ancient Greek mathematician and engineer from Alexandria, Roman Egypt. His work is representative of the Hellenistic scientific tradition and he is often called, the greatest experimenter of antiquity. No artist or date credited on image.
Share
pinterestPinterest
twitterTwitter
facebookFacebook
emailEmail

Add to another lightbox

Add to another lightbox

add to lightbox print share
Do you already have an account? Sign in
You do not have an account? Register
Buy this image
Loading...
Title:
Hero's Engine, First Recorded Steam Engine
Caption:
In the first century AD a Greek inventor known as Hero of Alexandria came up with a new invention that depended more on the mechanical interaction of heat and water. He invented a rocket-like device called an aeolipile, also known as Hero's engine. It used steam for propulsion. Hero mounted a sphere on top of a water kettle. A fire below the kettle turned the water into steam, and the gas traveled through the pipes to the sphere. Two L-shaped tubes on opposite sides of the sphere allowed the gas to escape, and in doing so gave a thrust to the sphere that caused it to rotate. Hero (or Heron) of Alexandria (10-70 AD) was an ancient Greek mathematician and engineer from Alexandria, Roman Egypt. His work is representative of the Hellenistic scientific tradition and he is often called, the greatest experimenter of antiquity. No artist or date credited on image.
Credit:
Album / Science Source
Releases:
Model: No - Property: No
Rights questions?
Image size:
3300 x 4425 px | 41.8 MB
Print size:
27.9 x 37.5 cm | 11.0 x 14.8 in (300 dpi)