What is the Internal Combustion Engine?

Ian Brazier
Physics 211, Fall 2014
11/25/14

The Internal Combustion Engine is the basis upon which all car motion begins. Without it, the cars wouldn't be able to produce the energy that they require to move. It is a simple concept, but it can get complicated with newer and more efficient engine models.  Sure, there are many types of engines, such as the two-stroke, the four-stroke, a plane engine, a boat engine, etc. but they all are based on the concept of combusting liquids and gases to release their stored up energy, translating it into the moving parts of the vehicle and ultimately to the tires which use their frictional force to create movement.

How does it work?

In 1867, Nikolaus Otto invented what is known as the four-stroke engine cycle, also known as the Otto cycle. By it's name, it consists of four strokes equaling one cycle of the engine. These four strokes are: Intake, Compression, Combustion, and Exhaust.  Often times it is called "Suck, Squeeze, Bang, Blow" as a way of easier memorization to understand what is going on.

The example shows a four-stroke in action, although it depicts the intake as the right side rather than the left.
     

.gif from http://gifsoup.com/view/4132770/internal-combustion-engine.html