What was the primary function of Hero of Alexandria's ancient device, the aeolipile?
Answer
To demonstrate reactive force as a novelty
The aeolipile, described in the first century CE, was a spinning sphere turned by steam jets and was considered an impressive demonstration of reactive force rather than a source of practical work.

Related Questions
What fundamental shift did steam power represent in energy harnessing?What was the primary function of Hero of Alexandria's ancient device, the aeolipile?What economic pressure drove the wave of steam engine invention in the late 17th century?How did Thomas Savery's 1698 engine primarily lift water?What significant inefficiency plagued Thomas Newcomen's atmospheric engine?What was James Watt's fundamental efficiency improvement patented in 1769?What mechanism did James Watt develop to convert linear pumping motion into circular motion for factories?How did efficient rotative steam power change the geography of manufacturing?What key features in George Stephenson's *Rocket* proved the viability of smooth-railed railways?What is the modern successor to the reciprocating steam engine that generates most of the world's electricity?