What is the transfer of energy in the engine room? How does steam generate motion? Objective Students will be able to infer how energy is transferred in the engine room. Background Steam from the boiler room travels to the engine room. The valves move down, allowing steam into the cylinder. Inside the cylinder, there is high pressure and low volume. The high pressure of the steam pushes the pistons down. The volume increases when the pistons are pushed down. When pistons push down, the crankshaft rotates, thus spinning the propeller. The propeller powers the tugboat. Note: the in-class experim Duration: 60 Minutes.