How did early steam locomotives convert piston movement into wheel motion?
Answer
By using rods to turn reciprocating motion into rotary motion
The power generated in the steam engine was harnessed through the use of pistons that moved back and forth inside cylinders due to high-pressure steam. To translate this energy into forward movement, this reciprocating motion had to be converted into the rotary motion of the wheels. This was achieved by connecting the pistons to the driving wheels via rigid metal rods. As the piston pushed forward and pulled back, the connected rods forced the wheels to rotate, creating the rotational force necessary to move the entire train along the tracks.
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