Science Common Sense

427 - What is the purpose of a crankshaft in an engine?

The crankshaft is a very important part of an engine. Its purpose is to convert the up and down motion of the pistons into a turning or rotary motion. This motion is then used to turn the wheels of a car or operate other machines. It's kind of like when you're on a see-saw, going up and down, but the crankshaft helps change that up and down motion into a spinning motion.