Four-Stroke Engine Simulation

Most cars use four-stroke engines. Four-stroke internal combustion engines transform thermal energy to mechanical energy. A spark causes an air-fuel mixture to ignite, forming hot gases. The hot gases expand and force the piston to move. The piston's motion turns a crankshaft. The motion of the crankshaft is transferred to the wheels of the car.

Each up and down movement of the piston is called a stroke. The four-stroke process occurs in each cylinder, and is repeated many times each second. The up and down motion of the piston is used to turn the crankshaft. The crankshaft's motion is transferred to the wheels of the car.

The first of the four strokes is the Intake Stroke, where a mixture of fuel and air is drawn into the cylinder as the piston moves down. Next is the Compression Stroke, as the piston moves up, the air-fuel mixture is compressed into a smaller space.

The third stroke is the Power Stroke, a spark from a spark plug ignites the air-fuel mixture, transforming chemical energy to thermal energy. The fourth and final stroke is the Exhaust Stroke, the piston moves back up, pushing the heated exhaust gas out. This makes room for new fuel and air, so that the cycle can be repeated.

This interactive 3D simulation gives students access to a running 4 cylinder engine, in a safe and risk-free environment. Students can use the simulation to learn how a piston works independently, and within a four-stroke engine. The simulation allows students to watch 3D animations of the four-stroke engine from any angle or distance, speed-up and slow-down the engine, as well as pause and show engine labels - all in real-time 3D. A complex mechanical process, like a four-stroke engine, is an easily understood lesson when delivered as an interactive 3D training simulation.