Which of the following is an example of a prime mover?

A prime mover refers to a machine that converts mechanical energy into a usable form of energy, and it is essential in various engineering applications. The steam turbine is considered a classic example of a prime mover because it harnesses the energy produced from steam to generate rotational energy, which can then be used to drive generators, pumps, or other machinery.

The steam turbine operates by allowing high-pressure steam to expand and spin the blades, converting thermal energy from steam into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy can be transformed into electricity or used in various industrial applications.

While electric motors, hydraulic pumps, and wind turbines are all vital components in engineering and power generation, they do not fit the traditional definition of a prime mover in the same way that the steam turbine does. Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, hydraulic pumps utilize mechanical energy to create fluid movement rather than generating it, and wind turbines convert kinetic energy from wind into mechanical energy but are generally classified differently as they harness natural energy sources rather than transforming heat energy as steam turbines do.