A machine used to convert the energy of running [[water]] into useful mechanical power. It consists of a [[wheel]] with fixed blades that intercept the flow of water. Water wheels were used in the pre-modern era for grinding grain in gristmills or powering industrial machinery, but they have since been replaced with other forms of power.

The modern equivalent of the water wheel is the water turbine, used to generate power in hydroelectric [[dam|dams]].

h4.See also

* [[factory]]
* [[stream]]
* [[waterfall]]
* [[windmill]]

h4. External links

* "Wikipedia: Water wheel":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_wheel