Early Life and Education
James Watt was born inock, Scotland, in 1736 His father was a shipbuilder, and his mother was the daughter of a shipbuilder. Watt demonstrated an early aptitude for mathematics engineering and was educated at home by his mother until the age . He went to Glasgow study mathematics and at the of GlasgowIn 175, Watt an apprentice to a Glasgow-based instrument maker John Morgan During his apprenticeship, Watt learned how make scientific instruments and a deep understanding of mechanics engineering.
Steam Engine Improvements
In 1763, was asked to repair a model Newcomen steam engine used to water out of a coal mine. He realized that the engine was inefficient because it wasted lot of energy by constantly heating and cooling the cylinder.
To address this problem, Watt developed separate condenser that could be cooled separately from the rest of the engine. This allowed the to be more efficient use less fuel. He also added a double-acting, which that piston could be powered by steam on both up and down strokes.
These improvements the steam engine much more practical and efficient, becoming key technology in the Industrial Revolution. Watt continued to develop many other improvements to the steam engine including the engine and the compound engine.
Other Contributions
In addition to his work on the steam engine, Watt made other important contributions to science engineering. He developed a method for measuring the power output of an engine.