Changes

The '''wheel''' was a revolutionary invention by the [[Mesopotamia|Mesopotamians]]. It reduced [[friction]] in movement by rolling. The wheel is ideal for transportation applications where it is generally important to waste as little [[energy]] as possible.

The '''wheel''' was a revolutionary invention by the [[Mesopotamia]]ns. It reduced [[friction]] in movement by rolling. The wheel is ideal for transportation applications where it is generally important to waste as little [[energy]] as possible.

== History ==

== History ==

The ancient Mesopotamians invented the wheel originally in the form of a potter’s wheel. It then developed into a solid wooden disk with a hole in the middle for an axle. To make the wheel lighter and more practical the spoked wheel was developed. The [[Greece|Greeks]] used this type of spoked wheel. The [[Celts]] introduced a [[bronze]] rim around the outside of the wood to strengthen the structure. That was how the wheel remained, without major modifications, until the [[19th century|1800’s]] when rubber (made from latex) tires started being developed.  

The ancient Mesopotamians invented the wheel originally in the form of a potter’s wheel. It then developed into a solid wooden disk with a hole in the middle for an axle. To make the wheel lighter and more practical the spoked wheel was developed. The [[Greece|Greeks]] used this type of spoked wheel. The [[Celts]] introduced a [[bronze]] rim around the outside of the wood to strengthen the structure. That was how the wheel remained, without major modifications, until the [[19th century|1800’s]] when rubber (made from latex) tires started being developed.  

In 1845, Scotsman Robert William Thomson patented the vulcanized rubber pneumatic tire in [[Scotland]]. Pneumatic means the tire is made from reinforced rubber and filled with air to provide a "...cushion of air to the ground." This type of tire was originally used on bikes but soon moved on to the automotive world. To this day, pneumatic tires are used on bikes and [[Automobile|automobiles]].

In 1845, Scotsman Robert William Thomson patented the vulcanized rubber pneumatic tire in [[Scotland]]. Pneumatic means the tire is made from reinforced rubber and filled with air to provide a "...cushion of air to the ground." This type of tire was originally used on bikes but soon moved on to the automotive world. To this day, pneumatic tires are used on bikes and [[automobile]]s.

The [[rubber tire]] was never truly popularised until [[World War I]], when the combined forces of the [[Triple Ententé]] ([[Britain]], [[France]], and [[Russia]]) started using it for military vehicles against the [[Triple Alliance]] ([[Germany]], [[Austria-Hungary]], and [[Italy]]), before the incidence of [[trench warfare]] which would have made using [[vehicles]] useless for battle with the exception of the largely helpful [[tanks]]

The [[rubber tire]] was never truly popularised until [[World War I]], when the combined forces of the [[Triple Ententé]] ([[Britain]], [[France]], and [[Russia]]) started using it for military vehicles against the [[Triple Alliance]] ([[Germany]], [[Austria-Hungary]], and [[Italy]]), before the incidence of [[trench warfare]] which would have made using [[vehicles]] useless for battle with the exception of the largely helpful [[tanks]]