Science Common Sense

435 - What are the differences between internal combustion engines and electric motors?

Imagine two types of cars: one with a big roaring engine, and another that's super quiet.

The big roaring engine is an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). It works by: 1. Burning fuel (like gasoline or diesel) inside a small chamber. 2. The burning fuel creates a tiny explosion that pushes a small metal piece (called a piston) up and down. 3. This motion turns the wheels of the car.

The quiet car has an Electric Motor. It works by: 1. Using electricity from a battery (like a big one from a store). 2. The electricity flows through a special coil (like a small wire) and makes it move. 3. This motion turns the wheels of the car.

Some main differences between the two:

• ICE cars are louder, while Electric Motor cars are quieter.
• ICE cars need fuel, while Electric Motor cars need to be charged.
• ICE cars can go farther on a single 'refill', while Electric Motor cars need to be charged more often.

So, Internal Combustion Engines use fuel and make noise, while Electric Motors use electricity and are quieter.