An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Engines can run on a variety of different fuels, most notably gasoline and diesel in the case of cars. The most common type of engine is the internal combustion engine (ICE), which burns fuel to create motion. The heat generated from the combustion of fuel in the engine moves pistons, which in turn move the vehicles wheels. There are different kinds of internal combustion engines, including diesel engines and gas engines. Engines can also utilize renewable or alternative fuels, such as natural gas, propane, biodiesel, or ethanol.
The purpose of an engine is to convert energy from a fuel to mechanical energy, creating motion in the process. Engines are used in a variety of applications, including transportation, industrial processes such as cutting, grinding, crushing, and mixing, and even in natural processes such as atmospheric convection cells. The simplest and most common type of engine comprises four vertical cylinders close together in a row, known as an in-line engine.
It's important to note that engines are not the same as motors. Motors are machines that convert electrical energy into motion, while engines burn fuel to create motion.
