Abie L. Benítez
Engines, the power agent of machines, are engineering wonders that transform energy into movement. There are several types of engines with a variety of efficiency level. The most commonly used engine utilized in cars and trucks are those that use the Otto cycle.
These engines are also known as spark ignition engines which operate in most cases with a four stroke cycle. First, these engines operate allowing a mixture of air and fuel to be drawn into a cylinder during the intake stroke. At which point the temperature and pressure of the mixture is increased by a compression stroke, this is the second step. Third, when the mixture is at near maximum compression a spark initiates combustion, raising the temperature and forcing expansion. The increased temperature makes the gases expand to the point that they work on the piston during what is called the power stroke. Finally, burnt gases are flushed out in what is known as the exhaust stroke which is the fourth of a series of four strokes. The mechanical work is possible because as the piston moves it pushes a connecting rod that moves a crankshaft connected through a rod bearing.
The process described for the four stroke engine denotes how engineers have taken the principles of thermodynamics and have applied it technology that converts chemical energy to kinesthetic energy and finally to mechanical work.
