’s Ships

Learning objective: To look at and learn about Brunel’s ships and his revolutionary methods! What powers ships? What makes ships move?

Talk to your partner about the question!

So what powers ships?

Ships would move when their sails would catch the wind, pushing them onwards.

Or they would also have rowers working away to power the ship.

Brunel developed a completely new design for ships SS Great Western

Brunel worked on steam powered railways, so he started to design steam powered ships!

This was revolutionary at the time!

The SS Great Eastern was completed in 1838 and was 212 feet long or 64 metres (as long as the height of Tower Bridge!)

Designed to travel to New York across

The North Atlantic ocean SHOCK!

The Great Western caught fire on its first journey from New York to - a fire in the engine room where Brunel was seriously injured before the put out the fire.

Overall, it was successful and made lots of journeys over the next few years! SS Great Britain: Steam Ship Number 2

Brunel’s second was launched in July 1843 - a propellor powered steam boat that was A TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL!

The Great Britain was advanced in two major ways: the ship was built with an iron hull, and instead of the paddle wheels found on all other , the ship was pushed through the water by a .

These were very modern designs! SS Great Eastern: Steam Ship Number 3

Nearly 700ft Long! That’s a bit bigger

Than The Gherkin in London!

The ship would have an iron double-hull to resist punctures. And steam engines that would power both a set of

Paddlewheels and a propeller. Propellors and Paddlewheels

SS Britain Propellors SS Great Eastern - paddle wheels