aeolipile
An ancient device, invented by Hero of Alexandria,
which was based on the rocket principle
of action and reaction, i.e. Newton's
third law, and used steam as a propulsive gas. It consisted of a specially-made
sphere on top of a water kettle. A fire below the kettle turned the water
into steam which traveled through pipes to the sphere. Two L-shaped tubes
on opposite sides of the sphere allowed the gas to escape, and in doing
so gave a thrust to the sphere that caused it to spin. No practical use
for the aeolipile was found at the time, it being an oddity similar to the
clay bird of Archytas.
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• HISTORY
OF ROCKETRY
• HISTORY
OF SCIENCE
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