Here's why:
* Fuel: The engine burns fuel (like gasoline or diesel) which stores chemical energy in its bonds.
* Combustion: The burning process releases this chemical energy as heat.
* Expansion: The heat causes the gases inside the engine to expand, pushing on a piston.
* Work: This piston movement is then converted into mechanical work, turning a crankshaft and ultimately powering the vehicle.
So, the process begins with chemical energy in the fuel, converts it to heat energy during combustion, and then uses that heat energy to create mechanical work.
