A steam engine is a mechanical device that converts the thermal energy of steam into mechanical work. It operates by heating water in a boiler to produce high-pressure steam, which is then directed into a cylinder. Inside the cylinder, the steam pushes a piston (or turns a turbine), transforming the steam’s pressure and heat into motion. This motion can be used to drive machinery, locomotives, ships, and other industrial equipment.

Steam engines played a key role in the Industrial Revolution, providing reliable power for factories and transportation. They work on the principle of converting heat energy into mechanical energy through expansion and condensation of steam. Although modern engines have largely replaced them with more efficient technologies, steam engines remain an important part of engineering history and are still used in certain applications today, such as steam turbines for power generation.