How a Petrol Car Engine Works
Introduction
A petrol car engine is a type of internal combustion engine that uses petrol (gasoline) as its fuel. It is the most common type of engine used in cars today.
Petrol car engines work by converting the chemical energy in petrol into mechanical energy that can be used to power the car. This is done through a series of four strokes:
- Intake stroke
- Compression stroke
- Power stroke
- Exhaust stroke
Intake Stroke
During the intake stroke, the piston moves down the cylinder, creating a vacuum that draws air and petrol into the cylinder. The air and petrol are mixed together and form a combustible mixture.
Compression Stroke
During the compression stroke, the piston moves up the cylinder, compressing the combustible mixture. This increases the pressure and temperature of the mixture, making it more likely to ignite.
Power Stroke
During the power stroke, the spark plug ignites the combustible mixture. This causes a rapid expansion of the gases in the cylinder, driving the piston down and creating power.
Exhaust Stroke
During the exhaust stroke, the piston moves up the cylinder, expelling the exhaust gases from the cylinder. The exhaust gases are then expelled from the engine through the exhaust system.
Diagram of a Petrol Car Engine
The following diagram shows the four strokes of a petrol car engine:
Conclusion
Petrol car engines are complex machines that convert the chemical energy in petrol into mechanical energy that can be used to power a car. They work through a series of four strokes: intake, compression, power, and exhaust.
