Steamboats

Question

Before the 1800s, most boats were powered by oars, sails, or moving water. When those power sources were unavailable, boats could not travel. But beginning in 1807, Robert Fulton built the first successful business around the

steamboat, which used a different kind of power.

Most steamboats worked in this way:

A wood or coal fire was used to heat water in a tank called a boiler.

The water expanded, boiled, and turned to steam, creating pressure inside the boiler.

A hole in the boiler was opened, and steam rushed out, turning one or more paddlewheels.

The paddlewheels propelled the boat through the water, even against currents and winds.

Question
Based on this information, what did a steamboat need in order to sail using steam power?(1 point)
Responses

a current in a river
a current in a river

wind and sails
wind and sails

wood or coal to burn
wood or coal to burn

rowers with oars

Answer 1

A steamboat needed wood or coal to burn in order to sail using steam power.