In this activity, students will examine the development of steam power during the Industrial Revolution, tracing the limitations of natural energy sources and the technical improvements that made the steam engine the dominant form of mechanical power. They will explore how inventors such as Thomas Newcomen and James Watt improved engine design, and consider how these developments opened the way for steam-powered transport.

It has 10 questions for students to answer, as well as a paragraph response section for them to demonstrate their understanding of the topic.