Gas pressure and its uses

The high velocity molecules of a gas placed in a confined space can generate tremendous forces. Forces that can be harnessed to do useful work by driving heavy machinery. The energy to drive water molecules to such speeds came from wood. The energy in the wood (chemical potential energy) was released as heat. Heat is absorbed by the water molecules which soon convert this energy into motion energy (kinetic energy) and accelerate into space colliding violently with each other and more importantly with the walls of the container.

 

Gas pressure can be generated and put to great use. The Industrial Revolution relied heavily on gas pressure, namely steam, to drive the heavy machinery.
Wood and coal were a cheap energy source for industry in the 18th Century.

 

Wood was a cheap fuel for industry

 
Huge boilers were constantly provided with energy(wood) to fuel the fire that accelerated gas molecules into the walls of their confined space. It was hard and hot work to constantly be attending to the boilers. Click to see a 400kb movie.
Huge boilers had to be constantly supplied with energy around the clock.
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Home Heat increases the average speed of the molecules Pressure is increased when the volume is decreased Pressure is created by collisions of molecules with the walls of their container