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Engine

Adapted from Wikipedia ยท Explorer experience

Animation showing how a brushed DC electric motor works, with moving parts illustrating the flow of electricity and rotation.

What is an Engine?

An engine is a special machine that changes energy into movement or work. It can make things go, like cars, airplanes, or even toys! Engines use different kinds of energy to do this.

Types of Engines

Engines can use many types of energy. Some use heat from burning fuel, like in cars. Others use electricity, like in small appliances. There are even engines that use energy from moving water or wind.

Heat Engines

One common type is the internal combustion engine. This engine burns fuel inside a special chamber. The burning creates hot gases that push parts of the engine, making things move. Cars and motorcycles often use these engines.

Electric Motors

Electric motors use electricity to create movement. They are used in many things, from fans to electric cars. Electric motors are quiet and can run on battery power.

Other Engines

Some engines use energy from nature. For example, hydroelectric power uses the energy from flowing water to make electricity. Geothermal energy uses heat from deep inside the Earth.

Why Engines are Important

Engines help us do many things every day. They power our cars, make our airplanes fly, and even help us make electricity. Without engines, life would be very different!

Fun Facts

  • Some engines are very small, like those in wind-up toys.
  • Big engines, like those on ships, can be as tall as a building!
  • Electric motors are often quieter than engines that burn fuel.

Images

An old coal gas engine used to power machinery.
An old mechanical device called a centrifugal governor from a steam engine, on display at a science museum in London.
A Mercedes-Benz V6 racing engine from a 1996 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters race.
An animated diagram showing how a four-stroke engine works, from intake to exhaust.

Related articles

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Engine, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.