Here's a breakdown:
* Fuel: The fuel (usually gasoline or diesel) contains chemical energy in its bonds.
* Combustion: The engine's combustion process burns the fuel, breaking these bonds and releasing the chemical energy.
* Heat Energy: The combustion process generates heat energy.
* Mechanical Energy: This heat energy is then used to drive pistons, converting it into mechanical energy.
* Kinetic Energy: The mechanical energy of the pistons is then transferred to the wheels, propelling the car and giving it kinetic energy (energy of motion).
Therefore, while the engine ultimately produces mechanical energy to move the car, the source of that energy is chemical energy stored in the fuel.
