water wheel
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A water wheel is a machine that captures the energy from flowing or falling water and converts it into mechanical power that can be used to do work. Historically, water wheels were essential for powering mills and other machinery before modern electricity became available.
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A water wheel in Erlangen, Germany The reversible water wheel powering a mine hoist in De re metallica (Georgius Agricola, 1566) The sound of the Otley waterwheel, at Manchester Museum of Science and Industry
A water wheel is a machine for converting the kinetic energy of flowing or falling water into useful forms of power, often in a watermill. A water wheel consists of a large wheel (usually constructed from wood or metal), with numerous blades or buckets attached to the outer rim forming the drive mechanism. Water wheels were still in commercial use well into the 20th century, although they are no longer in common use today. Water wheels are used for milling flour in gristmills, grinding wood into pulp for papermaking, hammering wrought iron, machining, ore crushing and pounding fibre for use in the manufacture of cloth.