All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

The water frame’ of Richard Arkwright was a device for

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2016 English Previous Year Paper (14-Feb-2016)
The correct answer is

producing strong threads of yarn

Understanding Richard Arkwright's Water Frame

The question asks about the function of the 'water frame' invented by Richard Arkwright. To answer this, we need to recall key inventions from the Industrial Revolution, particularly those related to textile production.

Richard Arkwright was a significant figure in the early Industrial Revolution in Britain. He is known for his inventions that revolutionized cotton spinning.

What was the Water Frame?

The Water Frame was a spinning machine developed by Richard Arkwright. It was patented in 1769. Unlike earlier spinning machines like the Spinning Jenny, which required skilled manual operation and produced weaker thread, the Water Frame used water power as its energy source. This allowed it to operate continuously and produce stronger, coarser yarn.

Key features and impacts of the Water Frame:

  • It was powered by water, making it one of the first power-driven textile machines.
  • It produced a stronger, more durable thread (yarn) than previous methods.
  • Its power source and design led to the development of factories, as machines needed to be located near water sources.
  • It significantly increased the speed and volume of cotton yarn production.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at the given options based on our understanding of the Water Frame:

  1. producing a new type of painting: The Water Frame was a machine for textile production, specifically spinning yarn. It had no relation to art or painting. This option is incorrect.
  2. irrigating fields for rice cultivation: The Water Frame was a spinning machine used in factories for textile manufacturing. It was powered by water but not used for agricultural irrigation. This option is incorrect.
  3. producing strong threads of yarn: As discussed, the primary function of the Water Frame was to spin cotton into yarn. A key improvement it offered was the production of stronger threads compared to earlier methods. This option accurately describes its purpose.
  4. the faster movement of steamships: The Water Frame was a textile machine from the early Industrial Revolution. Steamships became prominent later and are related to transportation technology, not cotton spinning. This option is incorrect.

Based on the function and impact of Richard Arkwright's Water Frame in textile manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution, its main purpose was producing strong threads of yarn.

Summary of Water Frame Function
Invention Inventor Purpose Key Feature
Water Frame Richard Arkwright Producing yarn (thread) Water-powered, produced strong thread

Revision Table: Key Textile Inventions

Important Inventions in Spinning
Invention Year (Approx.) Inventor Significance
Spinning Jenny 1764 James Hargreaves Allowed one spinner to work multiple spools of yarn
Water Frame 1769 Richard Arkwright Water-powered, produced stronger yarn, led to factories
Spinning Mule 1779 Samuel Crompton Combined features of Spinning Jenny and Water Frame, produced fine and strong yarn

Additional Information on Richard Arkwright and the Water Frame

Richard Arkwright is sometimes called the "father of the factory system" because the Water Frame, being a large, power-driven machine, required buildings (factories) to house them, often located near rivers for power. This shift from cottage industry to factory production was a defining characteristic of the Industrial Revolution.

The invention of the Water Frame, along with others like the Spinning Jenny and the Power Loom, drastically increased the efficiency and scale of textile production, which was a core industry during this period of rapid technological advancement and social change.

The strength of the yarn produced by the Water Frame was particularly important because it could be used for warp threads (the lengthwise threads on a loom), which needed to withstand greater tension than weft threads (the crosswise threads). Earlier machines often only produced yarn suitable for weft.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. What is a constellation?

  2. Which of the following planets of our solar system has least mass?

  3. Venus, the first environmental research satellite, was launched in August 2017 by which one of the following countries?

  4. The fact that the planets move around the sun, not in circles but in ellipses was first demonstrated by:

  5. Among the currently operational Indian Satellites, there is no:

  6. Which one among the following stars is nearest to the earth?

  7. Which one of the following correctly describes the principle of the working of an atomic clock?

  8. Which one of the following statements about the properties of neutrons is NOT correct?

  9. Which one of the following pairs of events and years is not correctly matched?

  10. Which one of the following statements with regard to Antrix Corporation Limited is correct?


Important Questions from Science Technology and Inventions

  1. ________ is the smallest unit of data in a computer.

  2. Latent heat of vaporization of steam is ________.

  3. _________ is an example of intrusive igneous rock.

  4. The first satellite for serving the education sector is:

  5. In physics, the particles called 'Higgs Boson' are also known as:

Need Expert Advice?
Test Series
CDS img
Defence
UPSC CDS 2026 Mock Test Series
536 Tests 4 Tests Free
1642 Attempts
4.3(174)
English, Hindi
More Questions from CDS

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App