Here's a breakdown of how it works:
1. Battery: The car battery stores electrical energy, typically 12 volts.
2. Ignition Switch: When you turn the key or press the start button, you complete a circuit that allows electricity to flow from the battery.
3. Starter Motor: This electric motor receives the power from the battery and uses it to rotate a gear that engages with the engine's crankshaft.
4. Engine Cranks: The starter motor's rotation turns the crankshaft, which in turn moves the pistons inside the engine cylinders.
5. Combustion: Once the engine is turning fast enough, fuel is injected into the cylinders and ignited, creating the power to keep the engine running.
Therefore, the battery's role is to provide the initial power surge needed to start the engine, not to "activate" it.
