Chapter 5 Motion

5.1 The motion of vehicles on land

Vehicles without engine
• Many vehicles do not use engines to
move about example bicycles, bullock
carts and wheelbarrows.
• The bicycle uses human energy to paddle
and move it.
• The rear cog of the bicycle is joined to the front
cog by the metal chain.
• Therefore, when we pedal to make the front
cog turn, the rear cog will also turn.
• This will turn the rear wheel and make the
bicycle move.
• The faster a person pedals, the faster the
bicycle moves.
• The gear system allows cyclist to pedal
comfortable and efficient rate, especially when
travelling uphill and downhill.
Vehicles with engines
• The four-cylinder engine is
commonly used in motor vehicles.
• A fuel is burnt in the engine to move
the pistons.
• The up and down motion of the
pistons causes the shafts in the
vehicle to rotate and the wheels to
turn.
• This makes the vehicle to move.
Four stroke petrol engine
 Induction stroke
• The piston moves down the
cylinder.
• The inlet valve opens and
exhaust valve is closed.
• The mixture of air and petrol
vapour enters the cylinder
through the inlet valve.
 Compression stroke
• Both the valves are
closed.
• The piston moves up the
cylinder.
• The mixture of air and
petrol vapour is
compressed and heated.
 Power stroke
• Both the valves are
closed.
• The spark plug produces
a spark, ignites the fuel
and causes an explosion
• The force of the
expanding gases drives
the piston down.
 Exhaust stroke
• The exhaust valve opens
and inlet valve remains
closed.
• The piston moves up and
drives out the exhaust
gases through the exhaust
valve.
• A new cycle starts when
the piston moves down.
 Summary ( four stroke petrol engine)
Stroke Inlet Exhaust Piston Notes
valve valve
Induction Open Close Move Petrol and air
downward enter
Compression Close Close Move Petrol and air
upward became hot
Power Close Close Move Spark plug
downward produce
sparks
Exhaust Close Open Move Exhaust gas
upward out
Four stroke diesel engine
 Induction stroke
• The inlet valve opens
and the exhaust valve
is closed.
• The piston moves
down the cylinder.
• Air enters the cylinder
due to air pressure.
 Compression stroke
• Both the valves are
closed.
• The piston moves up and
compresses the air,
which becomes very hot.
• Just before the piston
reaches the top, the fuel
injector injects diesel
into the hot compressed
air.
 Power stroke
• Both the valves are still
closed.
• The mixture of air and
diesel burns due to the
high temperature.
• The force of the expanding
gases pushes the piston
down.
 Exhaust stroke
• The inlet valve remains
closed, and the exhaust
valve opens.
• The piston moves up and
pushed the exhaust gas
out through exhaust
valve.
• A new induction stroke
starts when the piston
moves down.
 Summary ( four stroke diesel engine)
Stroke Inlet Exhaust Piston Notes
valve valve
Induction Open Close Move Air enter
downward
Compression Close Close Move Air became
upward hot
Power Close Close Move Fuel injector
downward inject diesel
Exhaust Close Open Move Exhaust gas
upward out
Two stroke petrol engine
• It is used for small machines example
motor boats, motorcycles and lawn
mowers.
• It is an inlet tube for the petrol-air
mixture to go in and an outlet tube
for exhaust gases to up escape.
• The inlet tube and the outlet tube
are open or closed by the piston
moving up and down.
 Upward stroke
• The piston moves up the
cylinder.
• The inlet tube opens and the
petrol-air mixture enters the
cylinder due to lower pressure
in cylinder.
• Piston closes the outlet tube.
• Petrol-air mixture above the
piston is compressed by the
rising piston.
 Downward stroke
• When the piston reaches the top of
the cylinder, a spark fired by the
spark plug ignites the petrol-air
mixture in the upper part of the
cylinder.
• The force of the expanding gases
pushes the piston down, opening the
outlet tube and allowing the exhaust
gases to escape.
• The piston closes the inlet tube as it
is moving down and forces petrol-air
mixture into the upper part of the
cylinder through a transfer passage.
 Transfer of motion in a car
• When the engine of car is started, the pistons
move up and down and rotate a crankshaft.
• When the gear is engaged, the crankshaft is
connected to the transmission system (clutch
and gearbox) and a drive shaft.
• The rotating crankshaft rotates the drive shaft,
the differential gear, and the wheel axle,
causing the wheel to turn.
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