Big Wheels on Water: How a Paddle Steamer Works
In Big Wheels on Water: How a Paddle Steamer Works, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb takes us aboard a paddle steamer — a large boat with giant wooden wheels on the sides that help it move through the water! There is an engine room with an enclosed fire that creates steam to power the wheels. The captain uses a big steering wheel and lever to control the boat. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
Lesson Express
Q: Why do paddle steamers need such big wooden wheels on both sides of the boat?
A: The big wheels help push the water, making the boat move forward. With wheels on both sides, the boat stays balanced and moves smoothly through the water.
Q: How does the fire in the engine room help the paddle steamer move?
A: The fire heats water in the boiler to create steam. The steam moves through pistons, which turn the paddle wheels and make the boat go forward.
Q: What do you think would happen if the fire in the boiler stopped burning?
A: Without the fire, the water wouldn’t turn into steam, so the pistons wouldn’t move, and the paddle wheels would stop turning. The boat wouldn’t be able to move at all.
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In Full Steam Ahead! The Magic of Steam Cars Explained, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb takes us on a ride in a steam-powered car. She shows how the boiler makes steam to power the car and how the regulator helps it move. Grace also explains why steam cars can feel bumpy on the road. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Full Steam Ahead! The Magic of Steam Cars Explained, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb takes us on a ride in a steam-powered car. She shows how the boiler makes steam to power the car and how the regulator helps it move. Grace also explains why steam cars can feel bumpy on the road. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.