* Internal Combustion Engine: Car engines are internal combustion engines. This means that the fuel (petrol) is mixed with air inside the engine cylinders and ignited.
* Combustion Process: The ignition of the fuel-air mixture creates a rapid expansion of hot gases, pushing down on a piston. This motion is converted into rotational energy that drives the wheels.
* Energy Release: Burning petrol releases chemical energy stored in its molecules, which is then transformed into mechanical energy that propels the car.
Key points:
* Petrol is a highly flammable hydrocarbon.
* The combustion process requires both fuel and oxygen.
* The burning of petrol produces exhaust gases, including carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other emissions.
So, to summarize: While it might feel like petrol is just "disappearing" in the engine, it is actually undergoing a chemical reaction called combustion that generates the power to move the car.
