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Intu LabUnderstanding through experience
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Physics · Understanding manipulation

The four-stroke engine

Understand the mechanical cycle and distinguish the succession of times from the ideal thermodynamic model.

Reading · approximately 4 min2 relationships explainedquiz · 3 questions
01 · The scientific principle

What is happening?

Admission, compression, combustion–expansion and exhaust follow one another in two revolutions of the crankshaft. The connecting rod transforms the movement of the piston into rotation while the distribution controls the valves.

The ideal Otto cycle represents certain transformations of a spark ignition engine. The real engine undergoes thermal losses, friction, gas renewal and combustion of finite duration.

02 · Relationships to know

The formulas, with their conditions.

Puissance = couple × vitesse angulaire

P: W; pair: N·m ; ω: rad/s.

Use when: Mechanical relation P = Cω for a rotating shaft.

ηOtto = 1 − 1/r^(γ−1)

η: ideal yield; r: compression ratio; Îł = cₚ/cᔄ.

Use when: Otto cycle with ideal gas and constant thermal capacities; no real return guaranteed.

03 · From laboratory to industry

Where is this principle used?

Engine factory and automobile workshop

Assemble, control and diagnose organs.

Generator

Transform the energy of fuel into work then into electricity.

What to observe in the experiment

Scroll through the assembly and identify the valve positions at each of the four strokes. Count the crankshaft revolutions per cycle.

To learn more

References and readings

This sheet explains the principles and their assumptions. Educational simulation can simplify the process; an industrial model requires suitable data and validation.

04 · Your turn

Have you understood the essentials?

Only one correct answer per question. Answer all three questions, then view the answer key.

1. A four-stroke cycle corresponds to how many revolutions of the crankshaft?
2. The connecting rod and the crankshaft are used in particular to

3. Is the ideal Otto efficiency that of any real engine?
Intu Lab · Understanding sheet · Kimba Christian