Look at Figure 5.4.

Each cylinder of a four-stroke engine fires once every two

revolutions of the engine. The resistance torque due to loading and friction rem
ains
fairly constant. At some parts of the cycle the engine produces more energy than
is
required (where the line is above the resistance torque line). The excess energy
produced is absorbed by the flywheel and stored as kinetic energy. When this
happens the engine increases in speed. The flywheel acts as a reservoir of kinet
ic
energy. When more torque is required than is produced at that time by the engine
,
the engine speed drops briefly and the flywheel gives up some of its energy to t
he
shaft (where the line is below the resistance torque line). The cyclic variation
of the
engine is greatly reduced by the flywheel and it can keep the engine speed betwe
en
two limits of operation. The greater the inertia of the flywheel, the less varia
tion in
speed occurs. Over one cycle, the energy supplied by the engine must equal the
energy required. The transmission system must be designed to ..ransmit the maximu
m
torque, although the average torque is much lower