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John Kay invented the flying shuttle
The flying shuttle was an important step towards automatic weaving. It was mounted on wheels and used paddles to shoot the shuttle from side to side when the weaver jerked a cord. This allowed one weaver to weave fabrics quickly than ever before. An advantage of the shuttle is that fabric was made at a faster pace. A disadvantage of the shuttle is that it replaced weavers and they faced unemployment. In todays world, we use machines to weave our fabric. -
James Hargreaves invented the spinning jenny
The spinning jenny is a multi-spindle spinning frame. It could spin 8 threads at once. An advantage of the spinning jenny is that there was a low yarn production cost. A disadvantage was a difficulty of keeping spinning conditions constant. In today's world, we use cotton mills to spin our cotton. -
Richard Arkwright invented the water frame
The water frame is a water powered spinning frame. It was able to spin 128 threads at a time. An advantage of the water frame was that it could produce harder and stronger yarn then before. A disadvantage was the yarn was coarse and not as fine. In todays world, we use friction spinning to make cotton thread -
Samuel Crompton invented the spinning mule
The spinning mule was used to spin cotton and other fibers. It could carry up to 1,320 spindles and could move forward and back a distance of 5 feet, 4 times a minute. An advantage of the spinning mule was that it could produce large enough quantities of strong yarn that it could satisfy the demand. A disadvantage was that many employees were fired. In today's world we use modern machines that are based off the spinning mule. -
James Watt innovated the steam engine
The Watt steam engine was the first type of steam engine to use a separate condenser. An advantage of the steam engine was that it could use any combustible material for fuel. A disadvantage of the steam engine is that is is unsafe to use. In today's world we use a steam turbine instead of the engine. -
Richard Trevithick invented the steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a type of railway locomotive that gets its power through a steam engine. An advantage of the steam locomotive, was that it was the only way to power a train at the time. A disadvantage was that it was very polluting to power it. In today's world we power our locomotives through electricity. -
Robert Fulton invented the steamboat
The first successful steamboat was called the Clermont. An advantage of the steamboat was that it was an easier and more effective way to travel upstream. A disadvantage was that the engine would build too much pressure and sometimes explode. In today's world we use different boats for different uses, but we make sure they're safe and don't blow up. -
George Stephenson invented the Killingworth locomotives
Stephenson improved the haulage of coal from mines with his locomotives. An advantage of this was that it was a more efficient way to transport coal. A disadvantage was it could only work a maximum of 6 miles per hour. In today's world we use conveyor belts, trucks, trains, or barges to transport coal. -
Henry Bessemer developed the Bessemer process
The Bessemer process allowed the mass production of steel to be done inexpensively. An advantage of this was that it paved the way for further innovation in iron and steel producing. A disadvantage of the process was that it did not properly remove phosphorus and sulfer, two elements that are harmful to iron. Today we use modern furnaces to make iron and steel -
Louis Pasteur invented pasteurization
The process of pasteurization was when you heated a beverage to destroy bacteria then allow it to cool. An advantage of pasteurization was that people didn't get sick from drinking soured milk or alcohol. A disadvantage was that some beverages would need to be refrigerated afterwards. In today's world we still commonly use pasteurization with a lot of beverages, however the process has modernized a little bit. -
Thomas Edison invented the phonograph
A phonograph was a device that recorded and reproduced sound. An advantage of the phonograph was that it could play music. You didn't have to listen to just live music anymore. A disadvantage of the phonograph was that it was easy to get unwanted noise in the final sound. In today's world we use radios. -
Nikola Tesla invented the radio
The radio was a way to get a message from one place to the other. An advantage of radio was that you could spread important information through it. A disadvantage was that you couldn't listen to it properly during bad weather. In today's world we still use radio, but it is more modernized.
