How an engine works

An engine is like a really big machine that helps to power things like cars and airplanes. It works by taking in fuel, like gas or diesel, and combining it with air to create a kind of explosion. That explosion pushes a piston down a cylinder, which is like a big tube. The piston is connected to a crankshaft, which is like a big spinning wheel that turns and powers the car or airplane. An example of this is the game of tug of war. If two people are playing, they both pull on the rope, and the person who has the most power, or the most strength, will win. It’s the same concept with an engine. The fuel and air mixture creates a lot of power that is used to turn the crankshaft. Fun fact: The average car engine has over 200 parts that all work together to make it run!