Here's why:
* Continuous combustion means that the fuel burns continuously within the combustion chamber as long as fuel is injected and there is oxygen present.
* In a diesel engine, fuel is injected into the combustion chamber under high pressure. The heat from the compressed air in the cylinder ignites the fuel, creating a continuous burning process.
* This contrasts with intermittent combustion engines like gasoline engines, where the fuel-air mixture is ignited by a spark plug, resulting in a series of explosions that drive the piston.
Therefore, while the combustion process in a diesel engine is controlled and regulated, it's not a series of discrete explosions. It's a continuous burning process.
