Mechanics

Car Engine

The Car Engine exhibit demonstrates the inner operation of a common engine. By turning the crank you can observe the pistons moving inside the cylinders, the valves opening and closing, the crankshaft turning, and the camshaft turning. This 4-stroke internal combustion engine is probably like the one you have in you car. A stroke is one movement of the piston, up or down. As you turn the crank in this exhibit, you can watch the four strokes that make up an entire cycle, i.e., intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust.